'"^^"  PL  A  NT  ATI  6  N  P 

BOOK   SHOP         ^ 
NATCHEZ.  MISS.       1^ 


m 


PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 


Minnesota  and  Its  Peo 


D 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  MINNEAPOLIS, 


BY 


JOHN    H.   STEVENS. 


WITH   BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS 

TO  COL.  JOHN  H.  STEVENS,  SELECTED 

BY  MARSHALL  ROBINSON. 


Minneapolis,  Minn. 

1890. 


COPYRIGHTED    1S90 
BY 

Marshall   Robinson. 


THE   LIBRARY 

UNIVI:RSITY  of  CALIFORNIi^ 

SANTA   BARBARA 


INTRODUCTOKY. 


I  essay  to  write  something  of  my  personal  recollections  and 
present  knowledge  of  Minnesota  and  its  people .  Living  alone, 
as  to  white  men,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony, 
I  preempted  a  part  of  the  present  site  of  Minneapolis.  I  have 
witnessed  wonderful  transformations.  With  such  aid  as  I  can 
command,  I  commence  the  relation  I  have  long  contemplated, 
as  one  of  love  and  legacy  to  such  patient  and  charitable  readers 
as  I  may  have.  A  multitude  of  loved  ones  have  gone  before, 
but  many  remain.  In  spirit  they  are  equally  present  and  in 
view.  Heroes  of  the  past,  brave  men  of  the  present,  many  of 
them  were,  and  are.  Blessed  is  their  memory,  and  their  presence. 


TABLE  OF  SOME  OF  THE  CONTENTS. 


Subjects.  Page. 
Introduction  and  Preliminary. 

AVith  the  Army  in  Mexico,  1846,  1847  and  1848        -  1 

Attention  directed  to  Minnesota                        -  -        2 
The  Wonderland  of  the  Northwest        -                    -3 

On  the  way  to  Minnesota            -                        -  4 

Prominent  organizers  of  Minnesota  Territory  -         6 

Black  Hawk  battle-ground                         -                -  8 

From  LaCrosse  to  St.  Paul  by  the  early  river  boats  7 
Little  Crow's  village  of  Kaposia,  five  miles  below  St.  Paul      9 

First  sight  of  St.  Paul                -                       -  10 

Pre-Territorial  Settlers                          -                        -  11 

First  visit  to  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony            -  13 

First  permanent  claim  at  the  Fall  of  St.  Anthony  14 

Expedition  to  Coon  Creek             -                        -  17 

Missionary  Fred  Ayer                                 -  18 

The  present  site  of  Minneapolis         -                           -  20 

AVinnebago  Indians  encamped  at  Minnehaha  Falls  22 

Franklin  Steele  and  Fort  Snelling                    -  24 

Officers  at  Fort  Snelling                        -                        -  25 

My  Claim  that  became  my  home  at  St.  Anthony  Falls  28 

Some  of  my  Indian  guests        -                        -  29 

The  Pioneer  Editor  of  Minnesota,  James  M.  Goodhue  32 

A  tribute  to  the  noble  men  who  have  passed  away  34 
The  caravan  of  ox-carts  from  the  Red  River  of  the  North     35 

Visit  of  Mrs.  Snelling  to  the  Fort                        -  38 

Rev.  E.  D.  Neill              -                       -  39 

First  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature                 -  42 

Philander  Prescott  43 


ii.  table  of  contents. 

Subjects.  Page. 

A  Frontier  Wedding                              -                        -  45 

Game  in  the  early  days              -                        -  49 

The  early  Missionaries.                 Illustration  51 

Big  Thunder,  the  father  of  Little  Crow                   -  55 

Wild  Food  of  Minnesota  -  61 
Pioneers  of  Stillwater                            -                        -65 

Frontier  Dancing  Party            -                        -  67 

A  phenomenal  winter                             -                        _  69 

Esquimaux  dispatches  by  dog-train  from  Pembina  74 

The  first  pioneer  white  lady  of  original  Minneapolis  77 

Enthusiasm  for  Minnesota         -                        -  78 

Minnesota  climate  banishes  cholera                            -  81 

First  town  election  in  St.  Paul         -                -  82 

Moving  into  the  first  hoTise  in  Minneapolis  84 

My  old  farm  where  Minneapolis  now  is                  -  85 

Native  oak  groves  where  the  town  was  laid  out  86 
MissFredrika  Bremer,  the  Swedish  authoress,  at  the  Falls  89 
Arrivals  during  1849  and  1850                     -                     91,     92 

Some  of  the  first  ministers  of  the  Gospel  at  the  Falls  92 

Manner  of  colonizing                  -                        -  95 

Pioneer  school  teacher  in  Minnesota                            -  96 

A  winter  journey  to  Washington                      -  97 

An  interview  with  Daniel  Webster                             -  100 

Statesmen  of  forty  years  ago  -  102 
The  first  white  child  born  in  what  is  now  Minneapolis        104 

The  first  churches  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony.  108 
Organization  of  Board  of  Regents  of  the  State  University  109 

The  first  merchants  at  the  Falls                              -  114 

Our  first  grist  mills                   -                        -  115 

An  important  treaty  with  the  Dakota  Indians  116 

The  first  farmers  about  the  Falls                -                -  120 

Enthusiasm,  fascination,  and  romance  of  frontier  life  122 

A  wild  deer  on  Spirit  Island,  and  bears  at  Rice  lake  124 

Indians  encamped  at  the  Falls  -  -  126 
Costume  of  the  Dakota  squaws,  and  behaviour  of  Indians  127 

Seeking  a  name  for  the  new  town                       -  128 

First  claims  on  the  west  side  of  the  Falls  129 

First  public  school  on  the  west  side  at  the  Falls  136 

Mr.  Hoag  buys  160  acres  of  Minneapolis  for  $100  136 


table  of  contents.  iii. 

Subjects.  Page. 

One  of  the  first  jurymen  refuses  to  be  frozen  into  a  verdict  137 

Claims  made  after  the  Traverse  des  Sioux  treaty  140 

Original  owners  of  the  soil  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Falls  148 

The  University  of  Minnesota  158 

St.  Anthony  pioneers  of  1851                  -                -  161 

Last  visits  of  the  red  men  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  162 

Legislators  come  by  dog-train  from  Pembina  165 

A  public  dinner  to  Franklin  Steele           -                -  166 

A  pioneer  of  the  last  century,  Jean  Baptiste  Faribault  167 

Discussing  a  name  for  our  town            -                -  171 

Organization  of  a  Claim  Association              -  180 

First  and  only  unanimous  election  in  Hennepin  county  183 

The  commissioners  select  the  name  of  Albion  for  the  town  184 

The  citizens  select  the  name  of  Minneapolis  186 

First  real  start  for  a  prosperous  race                      -  189 

A  man  goes  over  the  Falls                        -  194 

Preliminary  to  building  the  suspension  bridge  201 

History  of  the  first  Minneapolis  bell  tolled  202 

Beginning  of  the  Minnesota  Agricultural  Society  208 

Territorial  Agricultural  Society  organized  214 

Thanksgiving  sermon,  as  prophetic  as  devout  217 

A  hasty  but  liai)py  marriage  in  the  early  days  231 

Survey  of  the  village  in  1854                      -                •  233 

Naming  the  streets  and  avenues  in  Minneapolis  234 

First  newspapers  pul)lished  in  Minneapolis  240 

First  Agricultural  and  Horticultoral  Fair  in  Minnesota  242 

Boats  on  the  Mississippi  above  St.  Anthony  Falls  254 

Representative  men  of  the  early  settlers               -  246 

Clergymen  of  the  early  days          _                 _                 _  249 

Navigation  of  the  Mississippi  to  the  Falls            -  254 

Suspension  bridge  presents  the  first  span  over  the  river  255 

Citizens  celebrate  the  completion  of  suspension  bridge  260 

St.  Anthony  becomes  a  city                    -                -  263 

Exploring  expedition  westward  through  the  big  woods  265 

The  former  home  of  the  buffalo              -                -  266 

Minneapolis  putting  on  metropolitan  airs  269 

Business  houses  in  Minneapolis  in  1855               -  276 

St.  Anthony  annexed  to  Hennepin  county.  283 

Reminiscent  Review  of  events  of  pioneer  days  296 


iv.  table  of  contents. 

Subjects.  Page. 

An  Indian  Republic                .                .                -  299 

Men  of  mark  who  came  in  1857                      -  307 

A  movement  to  unite  Minneapolis  and  St.  Anthony  324 

Abolition  excitement  at  the  Falls          -                -  329 

Marvelous  shrinkage  in  the  value  of  property  381 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  N.  Adams  as  Missionaries  338 

Perilous  winter  journey  from  Pembina  to  Fort  Snelling  345 

Thirst  in  snow-covered  countries  353 

Buffalo  Hunting  in  the  northwest                          -  354 

Assiniboin  belief  in  futurity                        -  355 

Journey  along  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Superior  356 

Brief  essay  on  the  Life  of  Man  357 

Condensed  history  of  the  Sioux  Massacre  of  1862  362 

The  Indians  spare  not  their  earliest  and  best  friends  364 

Whole  settlements  annihilated  by  the  savages  366 

Wonderful  escape  from  the  Indians  -  371 
Full-blooded  Indian,  with  a  white  wife,  saves  many  whites  372 
General  Sibley's  account  of  the  captives  at  Camp  Release  375 

Death  of  Little  Crow,  the  Chief  who  led  the  massacre  377 

Statement  by  Wowinapa,  a  son  of  Little  Crow  378 

Conclusion  of  the  Pioneer  record  to  close  of  1862  384 

Life  of  a  missionary  half  a  century  ago            -  385 

Missionary  Pond  teaches  Little  Crow  to  read  387 

An  Indian  protest  as  to  Christians'  love  for  one  another  387 

At  Lake  Harriet  fifty  years  ago                  -                -  389 

Old  Settlers  Association  of  Hennepin  county  392 
Addresses  by  Messrs.  Atwater,  Neill,  Marshall,  and  others  393 

Indians  taking  a  sad  farewell  view  of  St.  Anthony  Falls  393 

An  agricultural  school  at  Lake  Calhoun  60  years  ago  396 

Redbird  and  his  warriors  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Falls  399 

Letter  to  the  Old  Settlers,  from  Dr.  C.  L.  Anderson  400 

St.  Anthony  Falls  as  it  appeared  of  old.     Illustration.  400 

Biographical  Memoranda— AVith  letters  to  Col.  Stevens  402 

Colonel  Stevens  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  1846  to  1848  402 

Letter  from  Horace  Greeley                  -                -  404 

An  early  boom     with  a  i)rotest — from  Franklin  Steele  412 

Reminiscent  letters  from  the  Hutchinson  singers  423 

An  infant  pioneer — an  old  settler  -  -  431 
Tw<^  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  discovery  of  the  Falls  431 


CHAPTEK  I. 

PRELIMINAKY. 

On  returning  from  Mexico  to  my  Wisconsin  home  in  1848, 
with  impaired  health,  I  thought  of  returning  to  a  claim  I 
made  in  Texas  in  184G.  During  a  military  march  in  the  fall 
of  184G  from  Matamoras  to  a  point  on  the  plains  some  forty 
miles  east  of  that  city  into  Texas,  the  command  lost  its  bear- 
ings on  the  prairie,  through  the  carelessness  of  the  guide,  and 
in  seeking  water  and  a  place  to  camp,  after  a  march  of  two 
days,  on  the  second  night  a  light  was  seen  in  the  distance 
which  evidently  indicated  the  presence  of  either  a  settlement 
of  whites  or  a  Comanche  camp.  The  latter  would  not  be  a 
desirable  event,  but  after  so  long  a  march  over  an  unbroken 
wilderness  it  was  decided  best  to  approach  the  signs  of  hab- 
itation. About  midnight  the  place  was  reached  and  it  was 
found  that  three  men  had  taken  claims  on  the  banks  of  a 
small  stream  which  drained  that  part  of  Texas,  where  both 
mes(|uite  trees  and  grass  were  abundant.  The  owners  of 
these  claims  were  from  New  Orleans  where,  as  clerks,  they 
had  saved  considerable  money.  They  had  concluded  to  unite 
their  earnings  and  become  planters  in  southwestern  Texas. 
They  purchased  a  few  negroes  and  mules,  supplied  them- 
selves with  i)rovisions  and  agricultural  implements,  and 
wandered  through  the  wilds  of  Texas  in  search  of  land  suita- 
ble for  planting,  and  located  in  what  they  thought  the  most 
desirable  plac-e.  I'lxni  a  hasty  examination  of  the  neighbor- 
hood the  next  morning,  I  decided  to  take  an  adjoining  claim, 
and  emjjloyed  them  to  make  improvements  on  it  for  me,  with 
a  full  intention  of  making  it  a  permanent  home  after  the  war. 
1 


Z  PEESONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

I   had  made   up  my  mind  to  reacli  this  point  as  soon  as  I 
could  close  my  business  in  Wisconsin  and  Illinois. 

The  morning  after  the  election  of  General  Taylor  to  the 
Presidency,  in  company  with  General  Henry  Dodge,  who 
was  on  his  way  to  "Washington  to  take  his  seat  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Wisconsin,  I  left  Mineral  Point  for 
Galena  as  a  starting  point  for  my  proposed  new  home  in 
Texas. 

A   CHANGE   IN   MY   PLANS. 

Early  as  it  was  in  November,  we  were  met  by  one  of  the 
most  fearful  snow  and  wind  storms  that  ever  swept  over 
the  Northwest.  The  result  was  that  we  were  snowed  in  at 
Hazel  Green,  a  little  hamlet  a  few  miles  east  of  Galena,  and 
were  obliged  to  remain  there  two  days.  Upon  our  arrival  at 
Galena  the  roads  between  that  place  and  Chicago  were  still 
impassable.  Governor  Dodge  concliided  to  go  by  way  of  St. 
Louis,  while  I  remained  waiting  for  one  of  Prink  &  Walker's 
stages  to  make  the  trip  to  Chicago.  While  thus  waiting  at 
the  old  American  House  for  the  roads  to  become  passable,  the 
Prairie  du  Chien  stage  from  the  north  arrived,  one  evening, 
having  for  one  of  its  passengers  no  less  a  personage  than 
John  Catlin,  the  former  Secretary  of  the  Territory  of  Wis- 
consin. When  that  Territory  became  a  State,  in  1848,  it  left 
Mr.  Catlin  acting  governor  of  the  portion  of  the  old  Territory 
not  included  in  the  new  boundaries  of  the  State  ;  hence  Mr. 
Catlin  had  just  returned  from  the  Upper  Mississippi,  after  an 
official  visit.  Among  other  duties  he  had  authorized  the 
election  of  a  Delegate  to  Congress. 

ATTENTION   DIRECTED   TO   MINNESOTA. 

Prom  Mr.  Catlin  I  first  learned  it  was  expected  that  a  new 
Territory  would  be  organized  by  Congress  at  the  coming  ses- 
sion, which  would  include  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  and  its 
name  would  be  Minnesota  ;  that  the  result  of  the  election 
was  in  favor  of  Henry  H.  Sibley  as  Delegate  from  the  pro- 
posed new  Territory. 

Learning  that  I  was  on  my  way  to  Texas,  in  consequence  of 
serious  lung  difficulties,  Mr.  Catlin  strongly  urged  me  to  give 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  6 

up  Texas  and  try  Minnesota,  as  it  was  well  known,  he  said, 
to  be  the  best  climate  in  the  world  for  such  invalids.  He 
urged  me  so  strongly  in  this  matter,  and  said  so  much  in 
favor  of  the  new  country  that  I  became  half  inclined  to  re- 
tire to  my  farm  near  Rockford,  Illinois,  for  the  winter,  with 
a  view  of  visiting  Minnesota  before  I  returned  to  Texas. 
Delayed  by  the  storm,  and  dreading  the  long  winter  journey 
which  must  l)e  accomplished  mostly  by  land,  I  finally  con- 
cluded to  abandon,  at  least  for  the  time  being,  the  journey  to 
Texas,  and  in  the  mean  time  would  seek  more  information  in 
regard  to  Minnesota. 

THE    WONDERLAND    OF   THE   NORTHWEST. 

After  being  settled  for  the  winter,  I  made  diligent  in- 
quiries about  this  new  Wonderland  of  the  Northwest.  I 
wrote  to  my  friend  Lieutenant  Governor  Timothy  Bums  of 
Wisconsin.  Governor  Burns  and  myself  had  for  years  been 
intimately  associated  in  the  mining  region  around  Mineral 
Point.  He  had  traveled  extensively  through  the  Territory. 
Here  is  an  answer  to  one  of  my  letters  : 

LETTER  FROM  GOVERNOR  BURNS. 

Madison,  Febniary  4th,  1849. 
My  Dear  Sir  :  In  answer  to  yours  of  the  20tli  of  January 
making  inquiries  of  me  about  the  Territory  of  Minnesota,  I 
would  state  that  I  think  there  will  be  a  great  deal  of  business 
there  next  summer.  Besides  the  agricultural  and  lumbering 
advantages  it  possesses,  our  Government  pays  off  some  four 
or  five  tribes  of  Indians,  with  three  or  four  conqjanies  of 
United  States  troops,  which  necessarily  causes  a  great  amount 
of  money  to  be  put  in  circulation  there  annually.  In  addition 
to  these  resources,  the  country  is  very  well  adapted  to  farm- 
ing purposes.  The  soil  and  location  of  the  country  is  excel- 
lent, and  St.  Paul,  in  my  opinion,  will  soon  be  a  place  of  con- 
siderable importance.  The  whole  business  of  the  i)eo])le  of 
the  Red  River  of  the  North  is  now  transacted  at  St.  Paul, 
which  is  very  considerable  in  itself.  In  conclusion,  I  think 
it  a  very  good  country.     Yours  truly,  Timothy  Burns. 

PREPARING   TO   VISIT   MINNESOTA. 

In  a  subsequent  letter  Governor  Bums  infonned  me  that  . 
upon  the  opening  of  na^'igation  he  should  make  a  visit  to  the 


4  PEESONAL   EECOLLECTIONS 

upper  country  as  far  as  the  Falls  of  St.  Croix,  and  I  agreed  to- 
meet  him  at  Galena  to  accompany  him  on  the  journey.  The 
result  was  the  abandonment  of  my  Texas  claim,  though  at 
first  I  did  not  observe  all  the  attractions  of  the  country.  We 
intended  to  have  left  on  the  first  boat,  but  on  arriving  at 
Galena  we  found  that  three  or  four  steamers  had  preceded  us. 

MY   FIRST   BILL   OF   GOODS. 

Governor  Buiiis  suggested  that  I  should  lay  in  a  supply  of 
stores,  as  hotels  and  boarding  houses  were  scarce  where  we 
were  going,  and  being  a  novice  in  such  matters,  I  purchased 
from  B.  H.  Campbell,  through  J.  E.  Jones,  at  Galena,  the 
following  : 

One  barrel  of  pork                -  -                        $9  50 

Two  hundred  pounds  of  ham  -                    -                8  00 

Ten  pounds  of  coffee            -  -                           1  00 

One  pound  of  tea  -                      -                   1  00 

Fourteen  pounds  of  sugar  -                    -          1  00 

One-half  sack  of  salt            -  -                           50 

Pepi^er,  spices             -             -  -                30 

Four  and  one-half  pounds  of  Tobacco  -                     •  1  67 

One  barrel  of  whiskey            -  -                -               6  48 

It  will  be  observed  that  these  necessaries  of  life  were 
cheap  in  those  days.  These  merchants  had  not  become  the 
prominent  and  illustrious  politicians  which  they  were  a  few 
years  later. 

EN    ROUTE    FOR    MINNESOTA. 

On  the  20th  day  of  Ajoril  the  good  old  steamer  Dr.  Frank- 
lin, Captain  Pres  Lodwick,  with  Captain  Russell  Blakely 
in  the  office,  entered  Fever  river  and  landed  at  Galena.  On 
going  al)()ard  to  secure  a  passage  to  St.  Paid  we  found  the 
cabin  full  of  passengers.  Among  them  were  Hon.  Henry  H, 
Sibley,  Hon.  Henry  M.  Rice  and  his  bride,  the  late  Joseph 
McAli)ino  Ko  long  the  book-keeper  of  the  old  St.  Anthony 
Mill  Company,  and  several  others  who  have  since  become 
prominent  citizens  of  Minnesota.  Messrs.  Sibley  and  Rice 
were  returning  from  AVashington,  where  they  had  put  in  a 
good   winters   work   in   behalf  of   the  Territory.     Governor 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  5 

Sibley  had  been  admitted  during  the  session  as  a  Delegate  in 
Congress,  and  had  made  many  friends  in  Washington.  Mr. 
Rice  was  no  less  active  than  Governor  Sibley  during  the 
session,  and  to  the  united  efforts  of  these  gentlemen,  with 
those  of  the  Inte  Franklin  Steele,  who  spent  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  winter  of  1849  at  the  seat  of  Government,  is 
Minnesota  indebted  for  the  early  organization  of  the  Terri- 
tory. 

PROMINENT   ORGANIZERS    OF   THE    TERRITORY. 

No  country  was  ever  more  fortunate  than  Minnesota  in 
containing  sucli  honest,  able  men  as  the  three  al)ove  named. 
The  steamer  laid  all  day  at  the  levee  in  Galena,  and  only 
started  on  her  northern  journey  after  dark,  hence  we  passed 
old  Julian  Du  Buque's  town  during  the  night.  We  reached 
Prairie  du  Chien  early  in  the  forenoon  of  the  next  day,  where 
a  portion  of  the  old  Sixth  Infantry  was  stationed  at  Fort 
Crawford.  I  recognized,  and  was  cordially  greeted  by,  many 
of  the  officers  of  the  Sixth  Infantry,  with  whom  I  had  been 
quartered  at  the  Convent  of  San  Fernando,  in  the  City  of 
Mexico.  Among  them  were  Dr.  McLaren  the  Surgeon,  Lieut. 
Winfield  S.  Hancock,  and  several  others  -whose  names  have 
since  become  known  all  over  the  world  for  their  gallant  deeds 
of  patriotism  during  the  War  for  the  XTniou.  Dr.  McLaren 
was  a  brother-in-law  of  the  late  Adjutant  General  Townsend 
of  the  United  States  Army.  His  removal  to  Fort  Snelling 
soon  after  I  saw  him  at  Fort  Crawford  made  him  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Minnesota.  We  remained  at  Prairie  du  Chien 
several  hours,  which  afforded  the  passengers  an  opportu- 
nity to  take  a  good  survey  of  the  ancient  town.  AVe  met 
Douseman,  Brisbois,  Fenton,  Bninson,  Savage,  and  several 
others.  We  missed  the  familiar  face  of  a  good  old  friend, 
Thomas  P.  Burnett,  who  had,  while  a  member  of  the  then 
recent  Constitutional  Convention  of  Wisconsin,  passed  over 
the  silent  river — where  all  those  citizens  of  Prairie  du  Chien 
whom  I  have  mentioned  have  since  joined  him  on  the  other 
shore. 

TOWNS  AND  SETTLERS  ALONG  THE  WAY. 

There  were  no  towns  of  importance  in  those  days  on  either 
side   of   the  river   betM-een  Dubuque  and  Prairie    du  Chien. 


b  PEESONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

A  German  colony  had  recently  landed  and  founded  a  town 
called  Guttenberg,  on  the  Iowa  side.  McGregor,  just  opposite 
Prairie  du  Chien,  contained  only  a  wareroom  and  a  house  or 
two.  Cassville  was  a  mining  hamlet  on  the  Wisconsin  side, 
suppoi-ted  mostly  by  the  mineral  in  the  neighborhood.  Since 
more  attention  has  been  given  to  the  agricultural  resources  of 
the  country,  there  is  no  reason  why  these  old  Wisconsin 
mining  towns  on  and  near  the  banks  of  the  river  in 
Grant  and  other  counties  should  not  become  places  of 
moment,  for  a  better  soil  for  farming  purposes  never  laid 
"  out  of  doors". 

From  Prairie  du  Chien  up  to  the  Bad  Axe  there  were  few 
if  any  white  settlers — if  we  except  the  Indian  traders  and 
wood  choppers.  Once  in  a  while  we  found  a  squaw  man  who 
had  a  small  patch  of  vegetables — which  was  worked  by  a  poor 
Indian  wife. 

BLACK  HAWK  BATTLE  GROUND. 

There  were  several  Eastern  passengers  on  board  who,  as 
well  as  the  others,  were  much  interested  in  looking  at 
the  neighborhood  in  the  vicinity  of  the  junction  of  the  Bad 
Axe  with  the  Mississippi.  The  location  had  become  famous 
as  the  place  of  the  defeat  of  the  Sauk  Chief  Black  Hawk  by 
our  troops  under  General  Dodge  and  General  Atkinson, 
August  1,  1832.  The  Indians  were  dreadfully  whipped. 
Black  Hawk  said,  when  taken  prisoner,  that  his  warriors  fell 
around  him  like  hail.  He  claimed  that  his  evil  day  had 
come.  The  sun,  he  added,  rose  clear  on  the  morning  of  that 
eventful  day,  but  at  night  it  looked  like  a  ball  of  fire  and  sank 
in  a  black  cloud.  It  was,  he  continued,  the  last  sun  that 
shone  on  Black  Hawk.  During  our  stay  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Bad  Axe  much  sympathy  was  expressed  for  the  Indians. 
Doubtless  this  was  one  of  the  most  disastrous  battles  to  them 
known  in  the  history  of  the  Indian  war  with  the  United 
States,  as  it  ended  in  the  total  destruction  of  most  of  the  fol- 
lowers of  Black  Hawk. 

From  the  Bad  Axe  the  Dr.  Franklin  made  but  few  landings 
mitil  we  reached  La  Crosse,  which  at  that  time  contained  but 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    I'KOPLE.  7 

a  few  houses.  I  was  iutroduced  by  Governor  Burns  to  a  Mr. 
Levy  as  the  pioneer  of  the  village.  I  also  met  at  La  Crosse 
Hon.  Nathan  Myrick,  who  subsequently  became  one  of  the 
most  i)rominent  citizens  of  Miiuiesota.  He  was  also  a  pioneer 
of  the  j)lace.  A  village  had  just  been  commenced  on  the  Iowa 
side,  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  in  Allamakee  county,  under 
the  auspices  of  John  Hanney,  since  known  as  Lansing. 
With  the  exception  of  a  warehouse  it  was  a  paper  town. 
There  was  no  Brownsville  or  La  Crescent  at  that  time  on  the 
Minnesota  side  of  the  Mississippi.  The  fact  that  La  Crosse 
was  the  center  of  a  considerable  trade  in  fur  with  the  Indians, 
as  well  as  a  depot  for  the  lumber  trade  on  some  of  the  streams 
entering  the  Mississippi,  warranted  the  belief  that  it  would 
eventually  expand  into  a  city  of  considerable  jsroportions. 
This  induced  Governor  Burns  to  make  a  large  investment  in 
the  embryo  village. 

FROM    LA  CROSSE    TO    ST.    PAUL. 

From  La  Crosse  to  St.  Paul  the  landings  became  more  fre- 
quent. Lumbermen  and  Indian  traders  were  more  numerous. 
At  one  point  under  the  bhifPs  the  boat  landed  to  take  on 
several  hundred  bushels  of  potatoes,  the  product  of  land  cul- 
tivated by  a  man  by  the  name  of  Reed.  Mr.  Heed  had  sold 
the  potatoes  to  a  house  in  St.  Paul.  He  informed  me  that 
this  was  his  first  shipment  of  farm  products  north,  and  he 
thought  the  first  of  a  similar  character  between  Lake  Pepin 
and  the  ui)per  Iowa  river.  Heretofore,  he  said,  most  of  the 
agricultural  products  required  for  the  upper  country  were 
raised  between  Dubuque  and  St.  Louis.  I  think  Mr.  Reed 
was  an  Irishman,  with  a  mixed  blooded  woman  for  his  wife, 
and  had  lived  under  the  bluif  for  a  great  many  years  in  a  kind 
of  voluntary  retirement.  He  seemed  to  be  much  pleased  that 
a  market  had  been  oj^ened  at  St.  Paul  and  Stillwater  for  his 
surplus  products.  Nelson's  Landing  at  that  time  was  a  depot 
for  lumber.  There  was  no  Winona.  I  think  the  landing  was 
known  as  AVabasha  prairie.  The  only  business — small  at 
that — was  the  Indian  trade.  At  Wabasha  large  groups  of 
Indians  were  seen.  Early  traders  with  the  natives  had  made 
this  a  point  for  many  years,  Hon.  Alex.  Bailey  was  at  that 
time  the  representative  of  the  Fur   Company  at  Wabasha. 


8  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

Oliver  Cratt,  A.  Rocque,  and  several  other  Canadian  French- 
men, were  residents  of  the  %411age.  Hon.  James  Wells,  an 
old  trader,  had  a  store  at  the  foot  of  the  Lake.  They  were 
mostly  employed  by  the  Fur  Company  and  the  United  States 
Agent  of  the  Indians.  Reed's  Landing,  just  above  "Wabasha, 
was  at  that  time  one  of  the  most  important  trading  points  on 
the  river.  The  numerous  logging  camps  up  the  Chippewa 
river,  in  Wisconsin,  had  all  their  outfits  stored  and  reshipped 
from  this  point,  which  made  business  lively,  especially  every 
fall  and  spring.  Mr.  Richards  had  a  store  house  at  Maiden 
Rock,  on  the  right  bank  of  Lake  Pepin,  which  was  a  place  of 
much  interest  to  the  passengers.  It  is  about  five  hundred 
feet  high,  and  the  location  of  a  sad  legend  of  the  natives. 

AN    INDIAN   ROMANCE. 

Winona,  an  Indian  maiden,  was  commanded  by  her  father, 
a  prominent  Chief,  to  marry  a  favorite  brave,  but  the  girl  had 
made  choice  of  another  for  her  husband.  Rather  than  com- 
ply with  her  father's  wishes,  she  threw  herself  from  the  rock, 
and  was  instantly  killed. 

Lake  City  was  not  in  existence  as  we  passed  Lake  Pepin, 
and  there  was  no  town  or  landing-place  on  the  eastern  banks 
of  the  Lake  until  we  reached  Wacouta,  at  the  head  of  the 
Lake,  at  which  point  an  Indian  trader  or  two  had  goods  to 
sell  to  the  Indians.  Red  Wing  was  the  seat  of  an  Indian 
colony.  I  think  only  a  few  whites  resided  there  at  the  time. 
I  only  remember  John  Bush,  the  Indian  farmer,  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Hancock,  the  missionary.  Probably  there  were  others  that 
I  did  not  see.  It  was,  and  had  been  for  a  long  time,  a  favorite 
resort  for  Indians,  and  I  believe  they  love  to  linger  in  the 
bottoms,  near  that  city,  to  this  day,  Prescott,  on  the  Wis- 
consin side,  attracted  considerable  attention  in  consequence  of 
its  beautiful  location.  There  were  biit  few  buildings,  aside 
from  the  necessary  warehouses,  but  many  of  my  fellow- 
passengers  predicted  a  flourishing  town  in  the  near  future. 
That  was  before  the  days  of  Hudson,  which  place  has  sju-ung 
up  since,  and  has  reaped  many  of  the  benefits  that  naturally 
belonged  to  Prescott.  AVe  thought  the  more  of  Prescott 
because  it  was  named  after  that  philanthroi)ist,  the  late  Phi- 
lander Prescott,  who    was   so    wantonly   murdered  by   the 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  9 

Dakotas,  below  Redwood,  during  the  Indian  outbreak,  on  the 
19th  day  of  August,  1802. 

On  tlie  steamer  leaving  Prescott,  the  next  landing  was  at 
Point  Douglas,  a  trading  post  of  some  consequence  in  the 
early  days  of  the  Territory.  Two  of  its  early  traders,  Messrs. 
Burris  and  Hertzell,  had  accumulated  quite  a  competency, 
even  at  that  early  day.  The  village  had  the  advantage  of  the 
trade  of  the  pioneer  farmer.s  residing  on  the  fertile  lands 
bordering  on  both  the  Mississipi)i  and  St,  Croix.  Other  towns 
have  sprung  up  since,  and  the  trade  of  the  Indians  has 
passed  away.  Point  Douglas  has  not  made  the  growth  that  all 
the  passengers  on  the  steamer  Dr.  Franklin  expected  on  that 
pleasant  April  day  in  1849. 

Our  next  call  was  at  Oliver's  Grove,  now  Hastings.  A  few 
Indian  traders  came  aboard  with  packages  of  fur  destined  for 
Mendota.  Oliver's  Grove  was  so  called  from  a  Lieut.  Oliver, 
who,  at  an  early  day,  had  charge  of  Govei-nmeut  stores  des- 
tined for  the  St.  Peters  camp,  that  were  landed  there  in  conse- 
quence of  the  close  of  navigation.  There  were  no  permanent 
residents  there  then,  though  the  late  Hon.  Joseph  R.  Brown 
had  a  trading  post  there  as  early  as  1828.  It  was  considered 
an  excellent  point  for  trading  with  the  Indians.  I  do  not 
think  there  was  a  soul  on  board  who  could  for  a  moment  have 
thought  that  a  large  and  flourishing  town  would  be  built  up 
so  rapidly  in  less  than  a  decade. 

LITTLE   crow's   VILLAGE — MISSIONARY   WILLIAMSON. 

Kaposia,  or  Little  Crow's  Village,  was  the  next  and  last 
landing  before  we  reached  St.  Paul.  This  was  the  residence 
of  Bev.  Dr.  "Williamson,  so  long  a  missionary  among  the 
Dakotas.  A  large  band  of  Indians  of  both  sexes  came  down 
to  the  levee  to  see  the  strangers  on  board  the  boat.  Presently 
the  venerable  missionary  came  aboard  and  took  passage  for 
St.  Paid.  He  was  warmly  greeted  by  Governor  Sibley,  Mr. 
Bice,  and  other  early  settlers,  who  were  passengers.  On 
being  introduced  to  him  by  Governor  Sibley,  he  asked  if  I 
was  a  relative  of  the  missionary,  Bev.  »T.  D.  Stevens,  who 
arrived  at  Fort  Snelling  in  September  1829,  and  who  preached 
to  Good  Boad's  division  of  the  Dakotas  at  Lake  Calhoun  so 
long,  long  ago.     Dr.  Williamson  gave  a  warm  welcome  to  his 


10  PERSONAL    EECOLLECTIONS 

new  friends  who  were  on  the  boat.  He  said  the  country 
would  not  disappoint  earnest  men  who  were  willing  to  fann 
or  to  follow  any  other  legitimate  business.  Of  course  it  was 
new,  but  it  had  a  rich  future,  and  as  soon  as  its  rare  resources 
were  known  it  would  become  populous.  People  could  not 
afford  to  lead  an  idle  life  here  ;  that  owing  to  its  peculiar 
climate  and  surroundings  they  would  prefer  to  keep  busy. 
This  was  the  commencement  of  a  life-long  friendship  between 
Dr.  Williamson  and  myself,  and  I  consider  it  one  of  the 
fortunate  events  of  my  life.  The  friendship  of  such  a  man  is 
worth  more  than  silver  or  gold. 

FIRST   SIGHT   OF   ST.    PAUL. 

We  were  soon  in  sight  of  the  new  Wonder  of  the  Western 
World,  as  it  was  before  the  day  of  booming  Western  towns  ; 
and  as  every  place  had  to  stand  on  its  own  merit,  we  had  not 
read  or  heard  very  much  in  regard  to  it.  There  was  no  paper 
yet  printed  in  St.  Paul,  nor  anywhere  in  the  Territory,  though 
James  M.  Goodhue  had  arrived  with  his  printing  outfit  on  the 
18th,  and  ten  days  from  that  time  the  first  paper,  the  Pioneer, 
made  its  appearance.  On  landing,  April  24th,  we  found  the 
town  something  more  than  a  frontier  trading  station.  I 
secured  a  home  for  the  time  being,  and  a  good  one,  too,  with 
J.  W.  Bass,  a  son-in-law  of  the  early  Wisconsin  pioneer, 
Kev.  Dr.  A.  Brunson,  and  a  brother-in-law  of  the  lamented 
Judge  Thomas  P.  Burnett.  Mr.  Bass  assigned  me  one  of  the 
best  rooms  in  his  house,  which  I  shared  the  next  day  on  the 
arrival  of  another  boat,  with  a  gentleman  also  from  the  lead 
mines  in  Wisconsin,  Dr.  David  Day,  who  has  since  occupied 
high  trusts  in  the  Territory  and  State.  Dr.  Day,  like  myself, 
was  suffering  from  lung  difiiculties  ;  he  could  scarcely  walk 
up  the  bluff  from  the  old  landing  ;  so  it  may  be  presumed 
that  we  made  peaceable  bedfellows.  In  any  event  it  made  us 
friends,  and  the  climate — not  medicine — made  us  both  strong, 
healthy  men. 

OLD   ST.    PAUL. 

I  do  not  suppose  St.  Paul  had,  on  that  24th  day  of  April, 
more  than  thirty-five  or  forty  buildings,  and  it  was  claimed 
that  from  1838,  when  Pierre  Parrant,  the  first  settler,  followed 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  11 

the  same  year  by  Messrs.  Abram  Perry,  Edward  Phelan, 
William  Evans,  Benj.  and  Pierre  Gervais  and  a  Mr.  Johnson, 
np  to  tlie  end  of  December  31,  1848,  there  had  been  only 
abont  ninety-five  heads  of  families  settled  within  the  limits  of 
St.  Paul  proper.  In  1839  Dennis  Cherrier  and  Vital  Guerin, 
with  four  others,  were  all  the  additions  received,  while  in 
1840  there  were  only  three,  which  included  that  excellent 
man  Rev.  A.  Ravoux,  Rev.  Lucian  Galtier  and  Joseph  Rondo. 
In  1841  thcn'e  was  only  two — Pierre  and  Sever  Bottineau,  of 
the  early  explorers — and  both  of  them  had  moved  to  St. 
Anthony  in  1849.  In  1842,  Hon.  Henry  Jackson,  Sergeant' 
Richard  W.  Mortimer,  and  four  others,  were  all  the  additions 
to  the  place.  In  1843  the  village  received  real,  solid,  sub- 
stantial and  lasting  encouragement  by  the  arrival  of  such  men 
as  Hon.  John  R.  Irvine,  "William  Hartshorn,  A.  L.  Larjien- 
teur,  Hon.  D.  T.  Sloan,  James  W.  Simjjson,  and  fourteen 
others,  many  of  theiu  men  of  much  merit  ;  but  in  1844  there 
were  only  five  who  made  St.  Paul  their  home ;  yet  small  as 
their  numbers  we^e,  it  included  such  enterprising  men  as 
Captain  Louis  Roberts,  Charles  Bazelle  and  Hon.  William 
Dugas.  Captain  Roberts  and  Mr.  Bazelle  were  worth  scores 
of  common  men  in  building  up  a  new  country.  The  year 
1845  did  better  in  numbers,  though  there  were  only  twelve 
fresh  arrivals,  but  they  included  such  well  known  men  as 
Charles  Cavileer,  Augustus  and  David  B.  Freeman,  and  Jesse 
H.  Pomeroy  ;  while  in  1846  Hon.  James  M.  Boal,  AVilliam  H. 
Randall,  William  Randall,  Jr.,  and  seven  others,  selected  a 
residence  in  St.  Paul.  In  1847  Hon.  AYilliam  Henry  Forbes 
moved  down  from  Mendota,  and  J.  W.  Bass  and  his  brother- 
in-law  Hon.  Benj.  W.  Brunson,  Hon.  John  Banfil,  Hon. 
Parsons  K.  Johnson,  and  Hon.  Simeon  P.  Folsom,  came  up 
from  the  lead  mines.  Miss  Harriet  E.  Bishop,  the  pioneer 
school  teacher,  ex-sheriif  C.  P.  Y.  Lull,  Daniel  Hopkins,  the 
merchant,  and  four  others — making  thirteen  in  all,  cast 
their  lots  in  the  new  village. 

PRE-TEKRITORIAL   SETTLERS. 

The  next  and  last  year  before  the  organization  of  the  Ter- 
ritory, the  pre-territorial   settlers  numbered  thirty.     Among 


12  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

them  were  Hon,  Henry  M.  Rice,  A.  H.  Cavender,  Rev.  B.  F. 
Hoyt,  Hon.  William  H.  Nobles,  David  Lambert,  W.  C* 
Morrison,  Nathan  Myrick,  Major  E.  A.  C.  Hatch,  Hon. 
William  Freeborn,  Lott  Moffatt,  Hon.  B.  W.  Lott,  Hon. 
David  Olmstead — all  historical  names — with  seventeen  others, 
many  of  them  men  full  of  energy  and  enterprise.  It  will  be 
seen  by  the  above  that  St.  Paul,  at  the   commencement  of 

1849,  could  not  have  been  a  very  populous  city,  but  there 
were  men,  who  were  residents,  of  the  very  best  business 
habits,  of  strict  integrity,  and  who  were  capable  of  surmount- 
ing every  obstacle  that  came  before  them.  It  is  true  the 
majority  were  easy-going,  but  honest,  and  in  some  instances 
frugal.  Many  of  these  early  settlers  were  discharged  soldiers 
from  Fort  Snelling.  Others — especially  the  French  Cana- 
dians— had  been  employed  for  years  with  the  Fur  Company. 
As  a  general  rule  the  French  population  were  contented,  and 
were  not  inclined  to  be  over-ambitious  in  relation  to  making 
money  ;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  wants  of  the 
people  were  not  what  they  became  at  a  later  period.  During 
the  short  period  that  I  remained  in  St.  Paul,  every  boat  that 
arrived  was  crowded  with  passengers.  The  same  may  be 
said  of  the   boats  during  that  entire  season.     The  boats  of 

1850,  and  for  several  years  thereafter,  were  full  of  people 
coming  to  make  Minnesota  their  home. 

SEEKING    CLAIMS. 

A  colony  of  some  twelve  jjersons  from  Rock  River  had 
preceded  me  to  St.  Paul.  They  were  neighbors  and  acquaint- 
ances of  mine.  They  could  find  no  desirable  claims  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  ^dllage,  and  after  consultation  it 
was  determined  to  proceed  up  the  Mississippi  in  search  of 
Government  lands.  The  impression,  previous  to  leaving 
home,  was  that  the  portion  of  the  Territory  west  of  the 
Mississippi  was  open  to  settlers  ;  but  it  still  belonged  to  the 
Indians.  The  report  had  gone  abroad  that  this  land  west  of 
the  river  was  greatly  superior  to  that  on  the  east  side — which 
was  true.  As  only  Indian  traders  and  squaw  men  could  get 
a  foothold  in  the  Indian  Territory,  we  concluded  to  explore 
the  upper  Mississippi  country. 


CHAPTER  II. 

FIRST   VISIT   TO   ST.    ANTHONY. 

Leaving  St.  Paul  with  plenty  of  stores  and  a  good  camping 
outfit,  we  arrived  at  old  St.  Anthony  about  noon  on  Friday, 
April  27th,  1849.  There  was  no  place  where  one  could  get 
accommodations  for  man  or  beast ;  but  we  M'ere  told  that  up 
the  river,  a  few  miles  further,  we  could  get  a  good  place  to 
stop  over  with  John  Banfil,  who  kept  a  hotel  at  Coon  Creek. 
This  we  found  to  be  true  ;  but  we  did  not  like  to  fast  until  we 
should  get  there.  Some  one  told  us  to  try  the  old  mess-house  ; 
it  might  be  by  making  terms  with  the  cook  we  could  get  a 
dish  of  pork  and  beans,  and  a  cup  of  coffee.  We  wanted  to 
take  a  good  look  at  the  Falls.  AVe  had  discovered  that  a 
tenderfoot,  some  way,  contracted  a  pretty  good  appetite  upon, 
or  soon  after,  his  advent  into  Minnesota  ;  so  we  wandered  to 
the  old  mess-house,  which  stood  on  the  bank  of  the  river  at 
the  east  end  of  the  present  bridge  on  Central  avenue  ;  and 
after  the  hands  engaged  in  building  the  mill  had  finished  their 
meal,  we  took  what  was  left,  with  thankful  hearts  and  dimin- 
ished funds.  Little  did  we  think,  on  that  day,  that  our  future 
home,  for  many  long  years,  was  to  be  in  the  vicinity  of  that 
old  mess-house. 

We  found  that  the  principal  Falls  were  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  river.  Messrs.  Franklin  Steele  and  Godfrey  had  their 
saw  mill  completed,  which  had  been  commenced  in  the  Autumn 
of  1847.  This  was  a  great  convenience  to  the  new  Canada 
people,  as  well  as  to  the  new-comers  in  both  St.  Paul  and  St. 
Anthony.  Previously  the  lumber  for  building  had  to  be 
hewn  out  of  tamarac  and  hard  wood,  or  hauled  overland  from 


14  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

the  St.  Croix  country.  The.  army  officers  stationed  at  Fort 
Snelling,  in  an  early  day,  made  strenuous  efforts  to  get  hold 
of  real  estate  around  the  Falls.  In  most  instances  the  few 
citizens  then  residents  of  the  country  got  the  advantage  over 
them,  and  obtained  the  prize.  At  a  later  period,  however, 
several  of  the  army  officers  became  interested  in  choice  lands 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  which  were  included  in  the 
military  reservation.  They  held  the  winning  cards,  from  the 
fact  that  claims  could  only  be  held  by  their  permission. 

FIRST  PERMANENT  CLAIM  AT  THE  FALLS. 

At  the  time  of  my  first  visit  to  the  Falls  I  learned,  from 
unquestionable  authority,  that  Franklin  Steele  made  the  first 
permanent  claim  in  St.  Anthony,  that  was  recognized  in  1838. 
At  that  time  he  was  Sutler  at  Fort  Snelling.  Major  Plymp- 
ton,  of  the  Fifth  U.  S.  Infantry,  made  a  claim,  in  1836,  and 
built  a  log  house  on  it.  This  was  the  same  claim  afterwards 
made  by  Mr.  Steele.  The  next  year.  Sergeant  Carpenter  of 
Company  A  of  the  same  regiment,  made  a  claim  immediately 
north  of  Major  Plympton's.  As  the  lands  belonged  to  the 
Indians,  the  claims  were  of  no  value. 

THE   CHIPPEWA  INDIANS   SELL   THEIR   LANDS. 

On  the"  18th  day  of  June,  1838,  it  became  known  at  Fort 
Snelling  that  the  Chippewas  had  sold  to  the  General  Govern- 
ment all  their  lands  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  St.  Croix, 
which  of  course  included  the  east  bank  of  the  Falls  of  St. 
Anthony.  Then  Mr.  Steele,  by  dint  of  great  perseverance, 
obtained  his  original  claim  by  virtue  of  making  the  first 
settlement  after  the  land  was  ceded.  He  accomplished  this 
over  all  competition,  including  that  of  Captain  Martin  Scott 
of  the  Fifth  Infantry.  Cajitain  Scott  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Molino  del  Rey,  in  Mexico,  on  the  7th  of  September,  1847. 
He  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  was  considered  one  of  the  best 
officers  in  the  Army.  Of  course,  under  the  land-laws,  officers 
of  the  Army  could  not  hold  claims,  because  of  their  incapacity 
to  pre-empt  them.  Mr.  Steele  secured  the  services  of  an  old 
voyager,  named  La  Grue,  to  live  on  the  claim  ;  but  while 
absent  from  home,  La  Gnie's  cabin  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  15 

his  wife  was  burned  to  death  in  it.  He  immediately  left  the 
country  and  was  never  heard  from.  Mr.  Steele  then  built  a 
commodious  log  house  in  place  of  the  one  that  was  destroyed, 
and  placed  a  well  known  voyageur,  Charles  Laundry,  in  it  to 
hold  his  claim.  During  his  absence  from  the  house  an  old  dis- 
charged soldier,  James  Mink,  jumped  the  claim,  got  possession 
of  the  house,  and  Mr.  Steele  was  obliged  to  buy  him  ofip  at 
l)retty  round  figures.  Then  Mr.  Steele  hired  Joseph  Reach 
to  occupy  his  place.  He  was  faithful  to  the  end,  and  in  1847 
Mr.  Steele  secured  a  deed  from  the  United  States  for  the 
claim,  paying  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  an  acre.  At  the  same 
time  he  i)urcliased  Nicollet  Island  at  the  same  cost  ])er  acre. 
Charles  Laundry  died  early  in  the  fifties,  near  Bottineau 
Prairie,  and  Mr.  Reach  died  about  the  same  time  at  his  home 
in  the  northern  part  of  St.  Anthony.  In  1838  Cari)enter  sold 
his  claim  to  a  soldier  by  the  name  of  Brown.  In  May,  1840, 
Brown  disposed  of  it  to  Peter  Quinn.  Mr.  Quinn  fell  a  victim 
to  the  treachery  of  the  Indians,  on  the  Minnesota  river, 
on  the  20th  of  August,  1862.  Mr.  Quinn  came  at  a  very  early 
day  to  the  St.  Peter  country  from  the  Coast  of  Labrador. 
He  was  an  honest,  warm-hearted  man  and,  I  think,  a  native 
of  Ireland.  He  was  for  many  years  employed  in  the  Indian 
Department  of  the  Territory.  His  widow  and  daughter  are 
nt)w  residing  in  St.  Paul.  He  has  two  sons  living.  His 
eldest  son,  occupying  a  high  position  in  the  Northwestern 
Territory,  was  killed  during  the  Riel  Rebellion  in  North- 
western Canada.  In  1845  Mr.  Quinn  sold  his  claim  to  his 
son-in-law,  Mr.  Findlay,  and  R.  P.  Russell.  The  next  year. 
May  9th,  they  sold  it  to  Pierre  Bottineau,  who  at  that  time 
was  a  resident  of  St.  Paul. 

Another  claim  was  made,  by  Mr.  Pettijohn,  as  early  as  1842, 
on  the  land  now  belonging  to  the  University  and  other  i)arties. 
Afterwards  Mr.  Bottineau  obtained  it,  but  it  eventually  fell 
into  the  hands  of  Calvin  A.  Tuttle,  who  purchased  it  from  the 
Government.  Joseijli  Rondo,  of  St.  Paul,  ])artly  made  and 
partly  jumped  Carpenter's  old  claim  near  Boom  Island,  in 
1843,  but  when  Bottineau  came  in  jwssession  of  the  Carpenter 
land,  he  soon  dis})osed  of  Rondo,  who  went  back  to  St.  Paul 
in  disgust.     By  purchase  and  otherwise  Mr.  Steele  and  Mr. 


16  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

Bottineau,  in  1845,  held  all  the  land  from  aoove  Boom  Island 
down  to  near  the  Tuttle  place.  I  find  that  one  Baptise 
Turpin,  a  half-breed  from  the  north,  lived  on  the  Pettijohn 
claim  in  1845.  He  held  it  for  Mr.  Bottineau.  This  year  two 
brothers,  Pascal  and  Sauverre  St.  Martin,  made  claims  down 
the  river  from  the  Pettijohn  claim.  The  land  became  the 
property  of  William  A.  Cheever  and  Judge  B.  B.  Meeker. 
Here,  then,  we  have  all  the  actual  residents  of  the  east  bank 
of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  up  to  and  including  the  year  1845. 

Charles  Wilson,  a  discharged  soldier,  long  employed  by 
Mr.  Steele  as  a  teamster,  was  off  and  on  at  St.  Anthony  after 
1845.  He  died  at  Fort  Snelling  the  early  autumn  of  1849. 
He  could  hardly,  however,  be  called  a  resident ;  and  yet, 
perhaps,  he  was  more  than  a  visitor  ;  but  his  home  proper 
was,  after  his  discharge  from  the  Army,  always  at  the  Fort. 

Mr.  Bottineau,  his  two  brothers  Severre  and  Charles,  and 
his  brother-in-law  Louis  Desjarlais,  Joseph  Keach  and  family, 
and  their  employees,  were  the  occupants  of  St.  Anthony  until 
early  in  1847,  when  operations  were  commenced  for  building 
the  mill.  The  services  of  Ard  Godfrey,  a  prominent  mill- 
wrio-ht  from  the  Penobscot  river,  Maine,  were  secured  as 
overseer  of  the  mill.  William  A.  Cheever,  of  Boston, 
Calvin  A.  Tuttle,  John  Rollins,  Luther  Patch,  Edward  Patch, 
Sumner  AV.  Farnham,  Caleb  D.  Dorr,  Robert  W.  Cummings, 
Charles  W.  Stimpson,  John  McDonald,  Samuel  Ferrald  and 
David  Stanchfield,  became  identified  with  the  place.  W.  R. 
Marshall,  J.  M.  Marshall  and  R.  P.  Russell,  were  also  more 
or  less  in  the  village  during  the  year.  Mr.  Russell  had  been 
a  resident  at  Fort  Snelling  since  1840,  and  frequently  made 
St.  Anthony  a  semi-home  ;  and  in  1848  he  became  a  resident 
in  earnest  by  settling  down  and  marrying  Miss  Marian  Patch, 
and  soon  after  became  the  pioneer  merchant  of  the  village, 
thou"h  he  had  previously  sent  a  small  stock  of  goods  to  vari- 
ous parties  in  St.  Anthony  to  trade  with  the  Indians  and  the 
few  whites  in  that  vicinity.  The  additions  to  the  population 
in  1848  were  Shennan  Huse,  Edgar  Folsom,  Elias  H.  Connor, 
Joseph  Potvin,  Silas  M.  Farnham,  Bernard  Cloutier,  Wash- 
ington Getclu'll,  A.  D.  Foster,  Charles  W.  Stinson,  and  a 
few  others. 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITH   PEOPLE.  17 

Many  of  these  gentlemen  became  permanent  residents  ;  all, 
and  those  who  came  before,  have  been  useful  and  respected 
citizens.  In  looking  over  the  list  of  the  old  settlers  of  pre- 
Territorial  days  in  Minnesota,  it  is  gratifying  to  observe  the 
fact  that  not  a  single  one  of  them  was  ever  presented  on  a 
criminal  charge — which  shows  that  they  were  men  of  good 
moral  character. 

EXPEDITION   TO   COON    ('KEEK. 

About  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  our  expedition  left  for 
Coon  Creek.  The  farmers  in  onr  ranks  objected  to  the  quality 
of  the  soil  from  St.  Anthony  on  the  route  because  of  the 
quantity  of  sand  in  it ;  but  as  none  of  it  had  ever  been 
cultivated,  of  course  we  could  not  judge  of  its  productiveness. 
Arriving  at  Banfil's  a  little  after  dark,  weary  after  the  day's 
walk,  Mrs.  Banfil  seated  us  at  the  supper  table,  which  was 
filled  with  wholesome  food.  One  of  the  party  thought  it  the 
best  meal  he  had  partaken  since  he  had  left  the  old  American 
House  in  Galena — which  was  praise  indeed  when  we  consider 
the  excellent  tables  on  the  upper  Mississippi  steamei-s  in  the 
old  colony  days,  as  well  as  of  mine  host,  J.  W.  Bass  of 
the  primitive  Merchants'  Hotel  of  St.  Paul.  Mr.  Banfil 
landed  in  St.  Paul  in  1847,  and  made  a  claim  at  Coon  Creek, 
which  was  considered  a  good  place  for  a  hotel,  securing  all 
the  travel  from  St.  Paul  to  Fort  Gaines,  the  Indian  agencies 
on  the  Upper  Mississippi,  and  those  engaged  in  the  Indian 
trade  in  the  Northwest. 

AT    THE    MOUTH    OF    KUM    KIVER. 

After  a  comfortable  night's  rest  and  a  good  breakfast  we 
continued  our  journey,  arriving  at  Bum  river  about  noon, 
where  we  found  a  solitary  cabin  occuj^ied  by  Mr.  Dahl,  who 
was  holding  down  the  claim  for  Louis  Roberts  of  St.  Paul. 
In  order  to  make  the  enterprise  pay,  Captain  Roberts  had 
established  a  ferry,  and  Mr.  Dahl  acted  as  ferryman.  With 
the  exception  of  the  cabin,  there  was  not  a  house,  a  chick  or 
child,  where  the  proud  city  of  Anoka  stands  to-day.  Inqiiiring 
for  a  good  camping-place  where  we  could  remain  for  a  few 
days,  to  explore  the  country,  Mr.  Dahl  directed  us  to  a  point 
a  mile  or  so  above  the  ferry,  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi, 
2 


18  PERSONAL    BECOLLECTIONS 

known  as  the  Big  Inland,  which  had  everything  desirable  for 
camping  purposes.  There  was  wood,  water  and,  at  the  proper 
season  of  the  5  ear,  good  grass.  At  Big  Island  we  prei)ared  a 
temporary  home,  and  commenced  keeping  bachelors'  hall. 
The  next  day  being  Sunday,  a  portion  of  the  exj^edition 
remained  in  camp.  Others  followed  the  margin  of  the  river 
to  the  junction  of  Rum  river  with  the  Mississippi,  hunting 
bottom  lands  and  hay  meadows,  but  found  none  that  were 
satisfactory. 

MISSIONARY   FRED.  AYER. 

Observing  that  a  tent  had  been  pitched  since  we  left  the 
previous  evening,  and  seeing  a  wagon,  and  a  span  of  horses 
feeding  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  we  made  a  call — Sunday  as 
it  was — on  the  new-comers,  and  found  that  the  occupants  of 
the  tent  were  the  Rev.  Fred.  Ayer  and  one  of  his  sons,  who 
were  on  their  way  to  what  is  now  known  as  Belle  Prairie,  to 
establish  a  mission  for  the  Chippewa  Indians.  We  were 
greatly  interested  in  Mr.  Ayer's  account  of  his  long  missionary 
labors  with  the  Indians. 

In  1830  Mr.  Ayer,  who  was  then  stationed  at  Mackinaw, 
was  sent  to  La  Pointe  to  examine  the  Lake  Superior  region 
to  report  in  regard  to  the  propriety  of  establishing  a  post  for 
missionary  work  on  or  near  the  great  "  unsalted  sea".  He 
returned  to  Mackinaw  the  same  year,  but  the  next  year,  in 
company  with  Rev.  Sherman  Hall,  he  returned  to  La  Pointe 
and  established  a  school  for  Indian  children,  and  was  by 
Mr.  Hall  selected  as  its  -principal  teacher.  In  1832  he  was 
sent  from  La  Pointe  to  open  a  kindred  work  at  Sandy  Lake  ; 
and  the  next  year  in  September,  he  was  transferred  to  Yellow 
Lake  for  the  beginning  of  a  mission  station.  Mr.  Ayer  was 
for  a  time,  I  think,  stationed  at  Pokegema  Lake,  a  beautiful 
sheet  of  water  some  five  miles  long  by  one  mile  wide  ;  and 
also  on  Snake  river  some  twenty  miles  from  where  it  empties 
into  the  St.  Croix.  When  I  saw  him  his  hair  had  become 
gray  in  missionary  work.  I  think  in  addition  to  the  places 
I  have  mentioned,  Mr.  Ayer  had  done  missionary  work  in 
various  parts  of  the  Indian  country.  The  next  morning  we 
saw  him  passing   our   camp   at   Big  Island,  and  shook  hands 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  19 

with  him.  From  that  dny  to  his  death  I  heard  and  read  of 
his  good  deeds  at  Belle  Prairie  and  elsewhere.  In  1805  he 
went  to  Atlanta,  Georgia,  in  the  employ  of  the  Freedmen's 
Bureau,  and  died  and  was  bunied  in  that  city  in  1867.  His 
life  was  one  of  great  self-sacrifice  and  usefulness. 

THE   COLONY    SCHEME   ABANDONED. 

As  the  explorers  came  into  camp  it  became  evident  that 
we  could  not  establish  a  colony  in  the  portion  of  the  territory 
we  were  visiting,  as  they  all  protested  against  locating 
where  there  was  such  light  soil.  We  had  lived  in  Illinois 
where  there  was  a  deep  black  soil,  and  we  wanted  to  find  that 
in  Minnesota  ;  but  we  looked  in  vain  far  it  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  river.  We  accidentally  discovered  that  a  small  piece  of 
land  had  been  cultivated  with  corn,  beans,  and  potatoes  the 
previous  year,  just  above  the  camping  ground,  and  looking 
around  we  found  the  product  of  the  land  concealed  in  an  old 
stack  which  was  covered  with  brush,  and  were  surprised  to 
see  such  large  ears  of  corn.  Upon  this  discovezy  I  made  up 
my  mind  that  the  soil  might  be  light,  but  if  it  produced  such 
com  it  was  good  enough  for  me  ;  and  after  returning  to  St. 
Paul  I  hunted  up  the  owner  of  the  claim,  William  Noot,  who 
resided  on  the  Fort  Snelling  reservation,  and  purchased  his 
right  for  $200  ;  but  before  I  got  ready  to  occupy  it,  some 
one  jumped  the  claim  ;  so  I  lost  not  only  the  claim,  but  my 
two  hundred  dollars.  This  was  my  first  venture  in  Min- 
nesota soil.  I  found  it  was  necessary  to  enter  land  as  soon 
as  it  was  in  market ;  for  mere  claims  to  land  could  not  be 
<lepended  upon. 

Procuring  an  old  Indian  canoe,  we  crossed  the  Mississippi 
and  made  a  journey  of  several  miles  into  the  interior  west  of 
the  river.  Here  we  found  the  quality  of  soil  we  wanted  ;  but 
as  all  the  land  west  of  the  river  from  the  Iowa  line  to  the 
Canadian  provinces  belonged  to  the  Indians,  we  could  not 
obtain  it  ;  and  the  result  was  that  all  the  members  of  the 
party,  except  myself  and  one  other,  determined  to  abandon 
the  country  and  seek  homes  elsewhere.  This  intention  was 
carried  out. 


CHAPTEE  III. 

THE    PRESENT    SITE    OF    MINNEAPOLIS. 

Returning  to  St.  Paul  by  way  of  Crow  river,  Fort  Snelling, 
and  Mendota,  we  had  an  excellent  ojjportunity  to  see  the  new 
country  along  the  route  before  its  appearance  had  been  changed 
by  the  hands  of  white  men.  We  were  all  in  love  with  it,  and 
wondered  how  it  was  possible  there  could  be  such  a  difference 
in  the  quality  of  the  soil  from  the  other  side  of  the  river. 

We  found  a  band  of  Winnebagos  encamped  on  Crow  river. 
They  came  dowm  from  Long  Prairie  to  hunt  and  fish  on  the 
neutral  lands  between  the  Dakotas  and  O  jib  ways.  I  was 
acquainted  with  some  of  the  Winnebagoes  when  they  lived  in 
the  lower  country.  They  expressed  their  dissatisfaction  with 
the  Long  Praii-ie  country,  and  their  deteitnination  to  abandon 
it  as  soon  as  possible  ;  which  resolution  they  carried  into 
execution  a  year  or  two  afterwards. 

At  this  time  the  neutral  lands  were  full  of  game,  and  the 
numerous  hikes  and  streams  were  alive  watli  fish.  We  followed 
the  old  Indian  trail  from  the  mouth  of  Crow  River  to  the 
western  bank  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony.  It  was  an 
unbroken,  beautiful  wilderness.  With  the  exception  of  the 
old  military  building  on  the  bank  opposite  Spirit  Island, 
there  was  not  and,  for  aught  I  know,  never  had  been  a 
house  or  a  sign  of  habitation  from  Crow  river  to  a  mile  or 
two  l)elow  Minnehaha. 

The  scenery  was  picturesque,  with  woodland,  prairie,  and 
oak-openings.  Cold  springs,  silvery  lakes,  and  clear  streams 
abounded.  Except  the  military  reservation,  from  what  is  now 
known  as  Bassett's  creek  to  the  mouth  of  St.  Peter  river,  the 


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OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOrLE.  21 

land  all  belonged  to  the  Indians,  and  we  were  trespassers  in 
walking  over  it. 

Wo  were  })articularly  charmed  with  the  lay  of  the  land  on 
the  west  l)ank  of  the  Falls  which  the  present  site  of  Minne- 
apolis includes.  A  few  Indians  belonging  to  Good  Eoad's 
band  had  their  tepees  iip,  and  were  living  temporarily  in 
tluun,  in  the  oak-openings  on  the  hill  a  little  west  of  the 
landing  of  the  old  ferry.  There  was  an  eagle's  nest  in  a  tall 
cedar  on  Spirit  Island,  and  the  birds  tluit  occupied  it  seemed 
to  dispute  our  right  to  visit  the  crags  below  the  Falls. 

We  started  up  a  number  of  large  timber  wolves — old  hoary 
fellows,  wandering  in  the  vicinity — that  had  grown  fat,  bold, 
and  vicious  in  feeding  for  years  up(jn  the  offal  of  the  old 
military  slaughter-houses  that  were   in  the  neighborhood. 

Many  government  mule- wagons  from  Fort  Snelling,  loaded 
with  siippliesfor  Fort  Gaines,  were  fording  the  broad,  smooth 
river,  near  the  brink  of  the  trembling  Falls,  wdiere  the  dark 
water  turned  white,  and  with  a  roar  leaped  into  the  boiling 
dei)th,  and  gurgled  on  its  rapid  way  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

The  banks  of  the  river  above  the  Falls  were  skirted  with 
a  few  pines,  some  M-liite  birch,  many  hard  maples,  and 
several  elms,  with  many  native  grajje-viues  climbing  over 
them,  which  formed  fine  bowers  up  to  the  first  creek  above 
the  Falls.  The  table-land  back  from  the  river  was  covered 
with  oak.  There  were  some  thickets  of  hazel  and  prickly 
pear.  On  the  second  bench,  a  little  below  the  Falls,  from  a 
quarter  to  a  half  mile  back,  there  was  a  dense  growth  of 
poplar  that  had  escaped  the  annual  prairie  fires.  These  trees 
were  very  pretty,  on  that  spring  day,  with  the  foliage  just 
bursting  from  the  biids. 

Here  and  there  were  fine  rolling  prairies  of  a  few  acres 
in  extent,  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  Falls  ;  but 
toward  Minnehaha  the  prairies  were  two  or  three  miles  long, 
and  extended  to  Lake  Calhoun  and  Lake  Harriet.  Near  the 
Falls  was  a  deep  slough  of  two  or  three  acres.  It  was  seem- 
ingly bottomless.  This  and  a  few  deep  ravines  and  grassy 
ponds  were  the  only  things  to  mar  the  beauty  of  the  scene 
around  the  Falls. 

On  the  old  road  from  the  west-side  landing  to  the  rapids 


22  PERSONAL    EECOLLECTIONS 

where  teams  crossed  the  river  was  a  fine  large  spring  with  a 
copious  flow  of  clear  cold  water.  From  appearances  it  seemed 
to  be  a  place  of  summer  resort  for  Indians  and  soldiers. 
Large  linden-trees  with  wide-spreading  branches  made  a 
grateful  shade.  In  after  years  the  water  of  the  spring  was 
much  used  by  the  early  settlers.  Picnic  parties  were  common 
in  those  days  from  Fort  Snelling.  The  officers  with  ladies 
would  come  up  and  spend  the  long,  hot  days  in  the  shade  of 
the  trees  and  drink  the  cool  spring  water. 

From  1821  for  many  years  all  the  beef  cattle  required  for 
the  Fort  were  pastured,  wintered,  and  slaughtered  near  the 
old  government  buildings.  For  this  reason  the  locality 
appeared  more  like  a  New  England  pasture  than  a  wilderness. 

On  the  way  to  Fort  Snelling  was  a  lone  tree  about  half 
way  to  Little  Falls  creek.  It  was  a  species  of  poplar,  and 
had  escaped  the  prairie  fires.  Its  trunk  was  full  of  bullet 
holes,  said  to  have  been  made  during  a  battle  between  the 
Chippewas  and  Dakotas.  This  was  the  only  landmark  then 
on  the  prairie  between  Minnehaha  Falls  and  the  west  bank 
of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony.  It  was  far  from  being  a  pretty 
tree,  but  it  served  an  excellent  purpose  during  the  winter 
months  when  the  Indian  trail  was  covered  with  snow,  as  a 
guide  to  the  few  travelers  who  passed  over  the  lonely  prairie. 
It  disappeared  long  since,  but  there  is  not  a  pioneer  who  had 
occasion  to  use  the  old  trail  in  the  winter  but  will  hold  it  in 
grateful  remembrance. 

LITTLE    FALLS. 

Arriving  at  Minnehaha  creek,  we  waded  through  its  silvery 
waters  and  encamped  for  the  night  near  the  Falls.  We  had 
for  company  several  Winnebagoes  who  had  put  up  their  wig- 
wams for  a  few  day's  rest.  They  had  been  on  a  visit  to  their 
old  home  in  Wisconsin  and  Iowa,  and  were  on  their  way  back 
to  Long  Prairie.  The  Indians  seemed  to  be  as  enthusiastic 
over  the  beautiful  Little  Falls  as  we  were.  Early  the  next 
morning  we  left  for  St.  Paul. 

FORT   SNELLING   TO   ST.    PAUL. 
Passing  Fort  Snelling,  we  crossed  the  St.  Peter  river  on 


OF   MINNESOTA  AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  23 

the  government  ferry  and  went  tlirough  Mendota  without 
calling.  AVe  followed  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  fre- 
quently through  mire,  to  a  point  west  of  St.  Paul.  We  were 
fortunate  enough  to  secure  the  services  of  a  Dakota  Indian  to 
cross  to  the  village,  where  we  were  safely  landed  in  our  old 
room  again,  with  Dr.  Day,  at  the  Merchants. 

DISBANDING   OF   THE    PAllTY. 

After  a  consultation  among  the  members  of  the  colony,  it 
was  determined  to  abandon  the  scheme  of  looking  further  for 
lands,  for  the  present,  and  all,  except  two,  took  passage  on  the 
first  boat  for  the  lower  country.  In  the  meantime  it  would 
not  answer  to  be  idle  while  waiting  for  a  treaty  with  the 
Indians,  who  were  willing,  if  not  anxious,  to  sell  their  lands 
west  of  the  Mississippi. 

EAST    AND   WEST   OF   THE   MISSISSIPPI. 

Though  much  good  land  could  be  found  between  the 
Mississippi  river  and  the  St.  Croix,  the  report  had  gone 
abroad  that  there  was  too  much  sand  in  the  soil  east  of  the 
river,  and  that  it  never  could  be  made  good  farming  land — 
which  is  not  true.  Yet  the  old  saying  was  pretty  well  illus- 
trated, that  to  give  a  dog  a  bad  name,  no  one  will  believe 
he  is  a  good  dog  ;  but  for  all  that  he  may  be  one  of  the 
best  of  dogs.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  east  side  suffered  greatly 
in  an  early  day  from  these  reports.  It  should  have  been 
determined  in  this  way :  while  the  country  east  of  the  river  is 
pretty  good,  that  on  the  west  side,  as  a  general  rule,  is  better. 


CHAPTER    lY. 

FEANKLIN   STEELE. 

Meeting  Mr.  Sibley  early  in  May,  he  said  the  business  of 
Mr.  Franklin  Steele,  at  Fort  Snelling,  required  some  one  to 
take  charge  of  it ;  that  Mr.  Steele  was  in  the  East,  and  was 
expected  home  soon.  On  the  return  of  that  gentleman  I 
entered  into  close  business  relations  with  him,  which  were 
continued  through  his  lifetime.  A  more  enterprising,  honor- 
able, and  popular  man  never  lived  in  the  Northwest.  He 
was  bom  of  distinguished  parentage  in  1813,  in  Chester 
county,  Pennsylvania.  His  father.  General  James  Steele, 
was  of  Scotch  descent.  One  of  his  ancestors.  General  Archi- 
bald Steele,  served  under  General  Montgomery  in  the  expe- 
dition against  Quebec.  He  became  Deputy  Quartermaster- 
General  of  the  troops  in  the  western  division  of  the  Army  in 
Pennsylvania.  Another  ancestor,  John  Steele,  was  an  officer 
in  the  Revolutionary  Army.  A  letter  is  preserved  which  he 
wrote  to  his  brother,  dated  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  June  14, 
1787,  in  which  he  says  :  "  I  at  present  enjoy  myself  incompar- 
"  ably  well,  in  the  family  of  Mrs.  Washington,  whose  guard  I 
"  have  had  the  honor  to  command  since  the  absence  of  the 
"  General  and  the  rest  of  the  family,  which  is  now  six  or 
"  seven  days.  I  am  happy  in  the  importance  of  my  charge, 
"  as  well  as  in  the  presence  of  the  most  amiable  woman  on 
"  earth,  and  whose  character,  should  I  attempt  to  describe, 
"  I  could  not  do  justice  to ;  but  will  only  say  that  I  think  it 
"  unexceptionable." 

At  the  commencement  of  my  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Steele 
he  was  the  foremost  lousiness  man  in  this  part  of  the  North- 


LITTLE   FALLS   OF   OLD-  NOW    MINNEHAHA. 

As  one  sees  the  Minnehaha,  gleaming,  glancing  thro'  the  forest. 

In  the  land  of  the  Dakotas,  "Pleasant  is  the  sound!"  he 

Where  the  Falls  of  Minnehaha  murmured, 

Flash   and  gleam  among  the  "Pleasant    is  the  voice   that 

ofik  trees,  calls  me  !" 

Laugh  and  leap  into  the  valley.  Would    he    come     again    for 

arrows 

And    he    journeyed     without  To  the  Falls  of  Minnehaha  ? 

resting, 

Till  he  heard   the    cataract's  Heard  the  Falls  of  Minnehaha 

laughter,  Calling  to  them  from  afar  oflF : 

Heard  the  Falls  of  Minnehaha  Fare  thee  well,  O  Minnehaha  ! 
Calling  to  him  thro'  the  silence,         [  Longfellow's  Hiawatha. 


OP   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  25 

west.  His  luimeions  enterprises  were  distributed  from  the 
head  of  Lake  Superior  to  the  Iowa  line,  and  from  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  Missouri.  Gentlemanly  and  generous,  every 
member  of  the  community  was  his  friend.  He  was  a  philan- 
thropist— a  lover  of  men.  His  principal  business  office  was 
at  Fort  Snellini^,  wliere  he  occupied  the  position  of  sutler. 
His  pleasant  home  was  just  outside  tlie  walls  of  the  Fort, 
where  his  accomplished  wife  presided. 

OFFICERS   AT    FORT   SNELLING. 

On  my  arrival  at  the  Fort,  in  May,  1849,  that  post  was 
under  the  command  of  Bi-e vet-Major  Samuel  Woods,  Captain 
of  Company  E,  Sixth  Infantry.  Major  Woods  married  Miss 
Clayborne  Barney,  the  yomigest  sister  of  Mrs.  Franklin 
Steele.  She  was  a  lady  of  rare  merit.  She  and  her  three 
children  died  of  cholera  at  Fort  Kiley,  Kansas,  in  1854  They 
are  quietly  resting  in  the  beautiful  Lake  wood  cemetery  on  the 
borders  of  Lake  Calhoun. 

The  other  officers  at  Fort  Snelling  at  that  time  were  Captain 
James  Monroe,  Company  K,  Sixth  Infantry  ;  Captain  Simon  B. 
Buckner,  Company  C  ;  Lieutenants  I.  AV.  T.  Gardiner  and 
Castor,  Company  D,  Second  Regiment  U.  S.  Dragoons  ; 
Lieutenants  A.  D.  Nelson  and  Page.  Dr.  Martin,  father-in- 
law  of  Captain  Monroe,  was  the  Surgeon,  and  Rev.  Dr.  E.  G. 
Gear,  Chaplain. 

Early  in  June  Lieutenant- Colonel  Gustavus  Loomis  arrived 
and  assumed  command.  Captains  R.  W,  Kirkham  and  Wet- 
more,  and  Sui-geon  A.  N.  McLaren,  also  arrived  in  June. 
Soon  after  Colonel  Loomis  assumed  command  at  Fort  Snelling 
Captain  John  Pope  of  the  Topographical  Engineers — now 
Major-General  Pope — and  Dr.  Sikes,  arrived  en  route  to  the 
boundary  line.  The  expedition  was  to  bo  under  the  command 
of  Major  Woods,  accompanied  by  Company  E,  Lieutenant 
Nelson,  and  Comiiany  D,  Lieutenant  Gardiner.  The  command 
left  Fort  Snelling  on  their  march  June  6th,  and  returned  in 
September. 

WHAT    BECAME   OF   THE    OLD    COMMAND. 

Few  t)f  the  officers  stationed  at  Ft)rt  Snelling  at  that  time 
are  now  alive,  and  of  the  soldiers  who  were  included  in  the 


26  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

command  I  only  know  of  four  who  survive,  viz :  James  Brown, 
Valentine  and  Charles  Haeg,  and  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Gellenbeck  of 
Shakopee,  Scott  county.  One  of  the  meml)ers  of  the  old  band, 
old-settler  M.  N.  Kellogg,  still  lives  in  St.  Paul.  Colonel 
Loomis  died  March  5th,  1872,  at  Stafford,  Connecticut,  aged 
83  years.  He  was  a  man  of  much  moment,  a  friend  of  the 
early  missionaries,  and  a  Christian  gentleman  who  delighted 
in  good  works. 

Lieut.  Paige  soon  after  left  the  army  and  died  in  Massa- 
chusetts. 

Lieut.  Castor  married  the  widow  of  Lieut.  Whitehorn,  and 
lived  but  a  few  years.  Mrs.  Whitehorn  was  the  daughter  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Gear. 

Lieut.  Gardiner  became  an  officer  of  high  rank,  and  died 
during  the  late  civil  war. 

Captain  Wetmore,  who  married  a  beautiful  Mexican  lady, 
retired  from  the  army  in  1850,  and  only  lived  a  short  time. 
He  died  in  St.  Louis. 

Captain  Monroe  was  a  colonel  during  the  civil  war,  and  was 
killed  in  battle. 

Captain  Buckner  left  the  army,  in  1854,  to  superintend  his 
wife's  large  estate  in  Chicago,  which  was  left  her  by  her 
father.  Major  Kingsbury.  The  lady  lived  only  a  few  years 
afterwards.  Her  husband  became  a  confederate  general,  and 
is  now  governor  of  Kentucky. 

Major  Woods  was  transferred  to  the  paymaster's  depart- 
ment, and  has  long  lived  in  California. 

Captain  Kirkham  became  assistant  qiiartermaster-general, 
from  which  service  he  retired,  a  few  years  ago,  and  now 
resides  in  Oakland,  California. 

Dr.  McLaren  became  assistant  surgeon-general,  and  died 
in  Washington  after  the  war.  Dr.  Martin  was  an  old  man  in 
1849.  He  died  in  Pennsylvania  not  long  after  leaving  Fort 
Snelling.  Bev.  Dr.  Gear  was  transferred  from  Fort  Snelling 
to  Fort  Ripley.  He  retired  from  the  chaplaincy,  and  died 
in  Minneapolis. 

Having  been  quartered  with  the  Sixth  infantry  in  the 
convent  of  San  Fernando,  in  the  City  of  Mexico,  in  the  fall 
of  1847,  it  was  a  i)leasure  to  meet  a  portion  of  the  old  regi- 
ment again  at  Fort  Snelling.     At  that  time  it  did  not  seem 


OF  MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  27 

that  the  City  of  Mexico  was  much  further  removed  from  the 
center  of  civilization  in  the  United  States  than  Yovi  Snelling. 
The  change  from  the  tropical  South  to  the  hy2)erborean 
regions  of  the  North  had  a  beneficial  eit'ect  on  the  health  of 
the  command.  The  climate  did  what  the  surgeons  failed  to 
do  with  Uncle  Sam's  medicine — it  banished  malaria  and  other 
diseases  incident  to  the  South,  contracted  in  Mexico,  from  the 
members  of  the  regiment.  As  Fort  Snelling  is  the  fountain- 
head  of  the  early  history  of  the  Northwest,  it  has  become 
classic  with  interesting  events  of  the  long  past.  Many  of 
them  have  never  been  published.  I  shall  refer  to  the  grand 
old  fortress  again,  anil  at  more  length,  in  the  pages  of  this 
humble  offering. 

IN   BUSINESS. 

Having  got  down  to  business,  in  examining  the  journals 
and  ledgers  of  Mr.  Steele,  the  posting  of  which  was  under 
my  supervision,  it  was  demonstrated  that  his  extensive  busi- 
ness was  in  a  most  satisfactory  condition.  His  mills  at  the 
Falls  were  completed,  and  his  trade  was  profitable. 

A    NEW    DEPARTURE. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  June,  1849,  Mr.  Steele  came 
into  his  counting-room,  in  the  rear  of  the  sutler's  store,  and 
asked  if  I  could  spare  the  day  to  accompany  him  to  the  Falls 
of  St.  Anthony.  He  added  that  he  had  an  object  in  \dew, 
which  might  possibly  be  of  advantage  to  me.  Having  decided 
to  go  with  him,  I  did  not  inquire,  at  the  time,  in  relation  to 
the  proposed  visit. 


CHAPTEE  Y. 

ANOTHER    VISIT   TO    THE   FALLS   OF   ST.    ANTHONY. 

On  the  way  up  to  the  Falls  with  Mr.  Steele  he  said  that, 
from  the  best  information  he  could  get,  the  military  reserva- 
tion of  Fort  Snelling  would  soon  be  reduced  in  size ;  that 
many  valuable  claims  could  be  secured  on  it,  provided  the 
Secretary  of  War  would  grant  permission  to  occupy  them  ; 
that  Hon.  Kobert  Smith,  M.  C.  from  the  Alton  district,  Illi- 
nois, had  secured  such  a  permit  to  hold  the  old  government 
property,  which  included  the  west  bank  of  the  Falls  ;  that  the 
claim  immediately  north  of  Mr.  Smith's  was  equally  as 
desirable,  and  he  thought,  if  I  wished,  there  would  be  no 
difficulty  in  obtaining  War  Secretary  Marcy's  approval  of  its 
occupation. 

MY    CLAIM    AT    THE    FALLS. 

During  the  journey  up  to  the  Falls  we  completed  our  plans 
and  marked  out  the  claim  that  became  my  home  for  many 
years.  I  readily  obtained  permission  from  the  Secretary  of 
War  to  hold  the  claim,  but  was  under  bonds  to  maintain  a 
free  ferry  for  the  crossing  of  government  troops.  There  was 
constant  communication  between  the  government  forces  at 
Fort  Snelling  and  Fort  Ripley.  Thus,  through  the  engage- 
ment with  Mr.  Steele,  I  became  an  occupant  of  the  land  that 
I  had  so  nnich  admired  a  few  weeks  before  on  the  occasion  of 
my  first  visit  to  the  Falls.  Had  any  one  intimated  such  a 
thing  as  possible  at  that  time  I  should  have  considered  it  the 
most  visionary  of  all  earthly  matters.  The  idea  of  such  a 
result  did  not  enter  my  mind  at  my  first  visit.     There,  on  the 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  29 

bank  of  the  river,  just  above  the  rapids,  I  commenced  build- 
ing my  humble  house,  to  which,  when  finished,  I  brouglit 
my  wife  as  a  bride,  and  in  it  my  first  children  were  bom,  the 
eldest  being  the  first-bom  child  in  Minneapolis  proper. 

Under  tluit  primitive  roof  many  important  historical 
events  occurred  ;  among  them  the  organizr.tion  of  the  county 
of  Hennepin,  and  election  of  the  first  officers  of  the  county. 
Indian  coimcils  were  held  in  it. 

SOMSf  OF   MY   INDIAN    GUESTS. 

Little  Crow,  Good  Road,  Gray  Eagle,  Shakopee,  and  other 
Dakota  chiefs,  held  consiiltation  with  the  goA'emment  agents. 
Major  Eichard  Murphy  and  Major  McLean,  in  that  house  ; 
while  the  Winnebagoes,  when  residents  of  the  upper  country, 
seemed  to  think  they  had  a  pre-emption  right  on  their  old 
down-country  friend,  when  making  portage  around  the  Falls. 
Hole-in-the-Day  and  his  Chippewa  braves  frequently  dropped 
in.  The  nearer  the  dinner  hour  the  better  it  suited  the 
different  tribes  to  make  their  call.  A  barrel  or  two  of  crack- 
ers, and  a  gt)od  supply  of  salt  pork,  was  a  special  delight  to 
the  red  brothers.  It  was  thought  ad\dsable  that  these  Indian 
luxuries  should  always  be  on  hand,  and  ready  for  any  emer- 
gency. They  preA-ented  depredations  on  the  garden,  growing 
crops,  and  stock.  If  the  Dakotas  did  not  always  respect  the 
projjerty  of  the  missionaries — such  men  as  Dr.  Williamson, 
Dr.  Riggs,  and  Eev.  M.  N.  Adams — it  could  hardly  be  expected 
that  they  would  exhibit  any  greater  respect  for  the  possessions 
of  a  man  avIio  lived  almost  alone  on  the  borders  of  their 
territory. 

The  United  States  judges  in  the  Federal  court  frequently 
sat  "  in  chaud:)ers"  in  the  small  parlor  of  the  old  house,  and 
decided  questions  of  law  that  were  brought  before  them — 
much  to  the  disgust  of  the  officers  at  Fort  Snelling.  Some- 
times soldiers  would  be  brought  before  a  Federal  judge  iu 
relation  to  the  legality  of  their  enlistment.  *At  one  time  when 
Judge  Chatfield  occujjied  the  bench,  he  ordered  Colonel  Lee, 
the  commanding  officer  at  the  Fort,  to  discharge  from  the 
army  two  privates  who  had  enlisted  before  they  were  twenty- 
one  years  old,  without  the  consent  of  their  parents. 


30  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Then  again  the  pioneer  ministers  of  the  gospel  would  hold 
meetings  on  Sundays,  and  sometimes  on  week  days,  in  the 
lone  house.  The  congregation  would  consist  pretty  much  of 
my  family  and  those  employed  to  work  for  Mr.  Steele  and 
myself. 

Once  in  a  while  this  old  house  would  be  honored  with  the 
presence  of  politicians.  For  instance,  when  the  fourth  legis- 
lature met  in  St.  Paul,  on  the  5th  of  January,  1853,  the  house 
failed  to  secure  a  majority  of  votes  for  any  one  man  for 
speaker.  Two  or  three  weeks  were  spent  in  voting  without 
choice.  Many  of  the  members  became  almost  discouraged. 
When  it  adjourned,  one  Saturday,  without  an  election,  the 
Whig  members  held  a  caucus,  at  which  it  was  decided  to 
invite  all  the  Whig  members  of  both  houses  to  be  at  the  little 
dwelling  under  the  hill,  up  at  the  Falls,  on  Sunday,  to  see  if 
measures  could  not  be  devised  for  the  election  of  a  speaker, 
and  to  effect  an  organization.  They  all  came.  There  was 
Dr.  Day,  Hon.  John  D.  Ludden,  Hon.  Justus  C.  Ramsey, 
Colonel  N.  Greene  Wilcox,  and  others,  of  the  house  ;  and 
Hon.  Martin  McLeod,  D.  B.  Loomis,  Geo.  W.  Farrington, 
L.  A.  Babcock,  and  N,  W.  Kittson  of  the  territorial  senate. 
Messrs.  Bass,  Brunson,  J.  P.  Owens,  and  other  prominent 
citizens  of  St.  Paul,  accompanied  them.  Suffice  to  say,  a 
programme  was  arranged,  and  on  the  morrow,  at  the  opening 
of  the  session,  the  dead-lock  was  broken,  and  Dr.  David  Day 
was  elected  speaker. 

ANOTHER    GOOD   SERVICE   IN   THE   ANCIENT    BUILDING. 

In  the  early  days,  after  the  lands  could  be  occupied  by  the 
settlers,  the  different  religious  denominations  held  meetings 
in  the  winter.  The  result  was  many  conversions.  Our 
good  friends,  the  Baptists,  with  old  Father  Cressey,  and  the 
respected  elders  Palmer  and  Russell,  were  there,  and  through 
their  influence  a  .revival  of  much  moment  occurred.  The 
house  being  close  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  it  was  used  for  the 
reception  of  the  members  after  baptisms,  on  the  cold  Sun- 
days. It  happened,  one  winter,  that  almost  every  Sunday  when 
these  solemn  rites  were  observed,  the  mercury  fell  to  nearly 
forty  degrees.     A  hole  of  sufficient  size  was  made  in  the  ice 


OF  MINNESOTA  AM)  ITS  PKOPLE.  31 

to  admit  the  clergyman  ajida  candidftte  ior  baptism,  when  the 
immersion  wonld  take  i^lace,  Tlie  i)artios  would  come  out  of 
the  river  almost  co\ered  with  a  sheet  of  ice,  Mheii  they  were 
hurried  into  the  house  for  a  chango  of  clothing.  There  was 
always  a  good  fire  in  the  few  rooms  on  these  inti^resting  occa- 
sions— esi)ccially  for  the  benefit  of  the  new-made  Christians. 
There  never  was  the  least  cold  taken  by  any  of  those  who 
were  immerst>d  during  those  extremely  cold  days. 

The  lowly  dwelling  was  frecjuently  honored  with  the  pres- 
ence of  distingTiislunl  visitors.  One  early  autumn  the  Swed- 
ish authoress,  Miss  Fredericka  Bremer,  was  entertained  for  a 
brief  period.  Another  summer  the  authoresses.  Miss  Clark 
and  Mrs.  E.  F.  Ellet,  made  the  household  glad  by  a 
sojourn  of  a  day  or  two.  Military  men  of  high  rank  fre- 
quently made  it  their  home.  From  there  Governor  Isaac 
Ives  Stevens  started  on  his  extraordinary  trip  to  the  Pacific. 

The  first  agricultural  society  in  the  Territory  was  organized 
there,  the  first  singing-school  held,  and  the  first  lyceum 
matured.  Marriages  were  solemnized — the  most  interesting 
of  which,  to  my  family,  w^as  that  of  Mr.  Marshall  Kobinson 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Miller,  the  youngest  sister  of  Mrs.  Stevens. 
Miss  Miller  was  the  first  public-school  teacher  in  the  pioneer 
settlement.  The  organization  of  the  first  school-district  on 
the  west  side,  under  the  laws  of  the  Territory,  was  completed 
in  the  house,  and  Messi-s.  Edward  Murphy,  Judge  F.  R. 
E.    Cornell,    and   John    H.    Stevens   were   elected   tnistees. 

The  name  of  the  ])lace  was  first  proposed  to  the  county 
commissioners  by  Mr.  Clias.  Hoag,  while  those  officers  were  in 
session  in  the  parlor.  The  name  was  promptly  confirmed  by 
the  board.  At  a  i)revious  session  the  name  of  Albion  had 
been  agreed  uj)on.  The  name  Minneapolis  is  derived  from 
the  classic  Greek  and  the  wild  Dakota  languages. 

The  first  justices  of  the  precinct  and  the  first  officers  of  the 
•county  were  sworn  into  office  under  its  humble  roof.  Its 
diminutive  walls  protected  many  a  j)oor  wanderer  far  from 
home  and  friends.  Its  site  was  on  a  small  portion  of  the 
grounds  occupied  by  the  union  de])ot  near  the  end  of  the 
suspension-bridge.  The  house  is  in  a  good  state  of  jDreserv-a- 
tion  on  Sixteenth  avenue  south  between  Fourth  and  Fifth  sts. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  summer  of  1849  at  Fort  Snelling  passed  quietly.  The 
last  of  May  the  governor  and  other  officers  appointed  by  the 
President  for  the  territory  arrived  and,  on  June  1st  at  St. 
Paul,  assumed  the  duties  of  their  high  trusts.  The  governor, 
Alexander  Ramsey,  frequently  called  at  the  Fort,  and  made 
many  friends. 

Emigration  was  the  great  staple  during  the  year,  and  St.. 
Paul  received  the  lion's  share  of  it. 

EDITOR   GOODHUE. 

The  village  was  fortunate  in  its  pioneer  editor.  Colonel 
James  M.  Goodhue,  who  wielded  a  pen  equal  to  any  writer 
on  the  continent.  I  had  known  him  in  Wisconsin,  and  was 
proiid  to  class  him  among  my  friends.  He  was  faithful  to 
the  whole  territory  but,  as  a  matter  of  course,  he  saw  more 
favorable  prospects  for  the  future  of  St.  Paul  than  for  other 
portions  of  the  territory.  This  is  not  to  be  wondered  at ;  it 
was  his  home.  In  the  fall  he  wrote  to  me  these  playful,  char- 
acteristic lines  :  "The  election  has  gone — all  right  enough,  of 
"  course.  I  have  done  my  duty  as  drummer.  If  our  folks  did 
"  not  choose  to  fight  and  conquer,  it  was  their  own  fault.  Tell 
"  Steele  that  as  the  organ,  I  have  to  grind  for  the  organization, 
"  whatever  it  may  be.  Blithe  understands  that.  Whatever 
"comes  up  as  regular,  I  have  to  conjugate  through  all  modes 
"and  tenses — and  class  everything  else  as  'irregular,  defective 
"  or  redundant' — until  after  election.  I  shall  try  to  come  up 
"on  the  first  ice.     Yours  truly." 

CHAPLAIN   GEAR. 

Fort  Snelling  was  favored  in  having  an  efficient  chaplain. 
In  July,  1848,   while   on    l>oard   a   steamer  en  route   from 


OF    MINNESOTA  AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  33 

Chicago  to  Buffalo,  I  had  as  a  fellow-passenger  Eev.  Dr.  E. 
G.  Gear,  who  was  the  chai^lain  in  question.  He  was  making 
a  pilgrimage  to  the  scenes  of  his  early  eastern  labors,  and  to 
visit  the  churches  he  had  ministered  to  so  faithfully  in  early 
life.  He  had  many  years  ago  abandoned  these  comparatively 
easy  places  for  the  life  of  a  clergyman  in  the  wild  northwest 
which,  at  that  period,  contained  but  few  whites ;  yet  among 
them  M-ere  men  of  rare  ability.  At  that  early  day  Dr.  Gear 
was  of  the  opinion  tluit  many  of  the  settlers  did  not  select  the 
northwest  for  homes  from  choice,  but  drifted  here  from 
various  causes  ;  some  came  in  the  anny,  many  in  the  Indian 
trade,  others  prospecting  for  lumber,  while  a  few  were 
attracted  by  the  beneficial  influence  of  the  climate. 

Agriculture  was  th«^n  in  its  infancy  and  at  a  low  ebb  north 
of  the  Iowa  line.  Dr.  Gear  thought  the  indications  were  that 
most  of  what  is  now  Minnesota  would  suffer  from  a  lack  of 
sufficient  moisture  in  the  atmosphere  to  mature  the  crops. 
Tliere  was  a  possibility  that  a  large  portion  of  the  noi-thwest 
would,  for  a  long  time,  be  occupied  only  by  Indians. 

Dr.  Gear's  life  and  labors  at  Fort  Snelling  brought  him  in 
contact  with  all  the  prominent  residents  and  tourists  of  the 
upper  Mississippi  of  two-score  years  ago  and,  being  a  close 
observer  of  men,  he  seldom  made  a  mistake  in  estimating 
their  worth.  He  belonged  to  an  old  New  England  family  of 
Piiritans,  and  though  an  Episcopalian,  he  retained  all  the 
characteristics  of  his  ancestors  in  relation  to  the  stem  duties 
of  life.  A  man  incapable  of  knowingly  doing  the  slightest 
injustice  to  any  one,  he  could  not  countenance  a  fault  in  others. 
He  was  greatly  pleased  with  the  immigration  of  1849,  so 
different  from  that  of  pre"saous  years — not  superior  in  ability 
or  morality,  biit  the  men  were  in  many  instances  accompanied 
by  their  families,  and  had  come  to  stay. 

Dr.  Gear  was  born  in  Connecticut,  September  1793,  and 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  by  Bishop  Hobart  of  New  York. 
In  1835,  he  was  sent  as  a  missionary  to  Galena,  Illinois. 
Three  years  later,  through  the  influence  of  General  Brooke 
and  other  high  officers  in  the  army,  he  was  appointed  chaplain 
at  Fort  Snelling  and  assumed  his  duties  as  such  at  that  place 
in  the  spring  of  1839.  He  had  an  interesting  family.  Most 
3 


34  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

of  his  daughters  married  army  officers.  His  only  son,  Hon. 
John  H.  Gear,  was  for  several  years  governor  of  Iowa.  He 
is  at  this  time  a  member  of  congress  from  that  state.  After 
Dr.  Gear  retired  from  the  chaplaincy  he  lived  at  Minneapolis, 
in  which  city  his  death  occurred  on  the  13th  of  October,  1873, 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  His  honored  remains  quietly  rest 
in  the  beautifid  Lakewood  cemetery.  His  death  was  a  great 
loss  to  the  people  of  the  northwest.  His  aged  widow  and  two 
daughters  are  residents  of  this  city. 

A     TRIBUTE     TO     THE     NOBLE     MEN    AVHO    HAVE     PASSED     AWAY. 

People  of  the  present  day  may  not  properly  appreciate  the 
good  works  of  those  of  a  past  generation ;  but  it  is  a  pleasure 
to  those  who  have  outlived  their  former  friends  and  associates 
to  speak  of  those  with  whom  they  were  intimate,  and  bear 
witness  to  the  present  generation  of  the  great  moral  worth  of 
those  who  have  crossed  the  silent  river.  The  pioneers  of 
Minnesota,  as  a  class,  were  men  of  great  merit — more  so  than 
in  many  other  states — equal  to  the  stem  pilgrims  and  their 
descendants ;  perhaps  because  there  was  a  mixture  of  all 
races,  uniting  the  best  blood  in  the  world,  which  could  not 
fail  to  accomplish  wonders. 

Every  one  seemed  pleased  with  the  new  officers,  and  the 
territory  was  started  under  the  most  favorable  auspices. 

PIONEER    CELEBRATION    OF    THE    FOURTH    OF   JULY    IN  ST.  PAUL. 

The  Fourth  of  Jidy  was  observed  all  through  the  territory, 
but  the  chief  attraction  was  in  St.  Paul,  when  St.  Anthony, 
Stillwater,  and  other  hamlets,  joined  the  St.  Paulites  in  the 
celebration.  Sauk  Rapids  furnished  the  orator,  the  newly- 
api:»ointed  Judge  B.  B.  Meeker ;  St.  Paul  the  reader  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  Billy  Phillips  ;  Fort  Snelling 
the  chaplain,  Rev.  Dr.  Gear,  and  also  the  marshal,  Franklin 
Steele.  Unquestionably  Mr.  Steele  was  as  fine  a  specimen 
of  manhood  as  any  state  ever  produced.  Tall,  well-propor- 
tioned, pleasing,  courteous,  gentlemanly,  an  accomplished 
rider — no  wonder  that  upon  a  fine  horse  on  this  occasion  he 
attracted  universal  attention  and  admiration.  It  was  said,  at 
the  time,  that  this  was  the  most  successful  celebration  ever 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  35 

held  in  the  northwest.  It  requires  lots  of  people  to  make  a 
succeysfnl  celebration.  They  had  them  in  St.  Paul  that  da\ . 
Many  of  them  were  newly-arrived  immigrants. 

FROM    JMK    ISED    RIVER    OF    THE    NORTH. 

The  Red-rivfr  cnravan  arrived  soon  after  the  celebration 
of  the  Fourth.  Our  old  friend,  Hon.  Norman  W.  Kittson, 
was  with  tlie  comiiany.  This  train  brought  in  an  immense 
quantity  of  furs,  pemmican,  dried  bulfalo-tongue,  and  all  the 
ju'oducts  of  tlie  great  northwest.  Lively  times  we  had  for  the 
next  four  weeks  !  Buffalo-robes,  martin,  fisher,  otter,  musk- 
rat,  fox,  badger,  bear,  wolf,  wild-cat,  lynx,  beaver,  and  all 
other  kinds  of  fur  incident  to  a  high  northern  latitude,  was 
brought  from  the  extreme  north  to  exchange  "r'or  merchandise 
or  cash.  Whole  cart-loads  of  the  handiwoi^c  of  the  squaws 
were  in  the  train.  There  were  moccasins,  gloves  and  mittens, 
worked  in  every  conceivalile  manner.  Beads,  porcupine- 
quills,  and  birds'  feathers,  were  worked  into  them.  These 
rare  articles  proved  that  the  native  women  of  the  extreme 
north  i)ossessed  artistic  taste.  It  plainly  indicated  that  they 
had  instructors  superior  to  the  savages. 

The  arrival  of  these  Bed-river  carts,  so  called,  added  much 
to  the  life  and  trade  of  the  territory.  This  was  the  beginning 
of  the  wholesale  trade  of  St.  Paul.  "Tall  oaks  from  little 
acorns  grow."  Many  of  these  small  traders  who  accompanied 
the  train  brought  considerable  money  with  them,  which  they 
paid  for  goods.  It  was  the  "  coin  of  the  realm",  mostly 
British  sovereigns.  It  was  seldom  that  an  American  dollar, 
half-dollar  or  a  (quarter,  half  or  whole  eagle,  came  into  the 
possession  of  these  Bed- river  merchants.  The  transportation 
of  the  products  from  the  far  north  by  the  Bed-river  carts, 
cost  but  little.  A  solitary  ox  was  harnessed  to  a  cart,  and  one 
man  had  charge  of  several  oxen.  The  teams  were  fed  exclu- 
sively on  grass.  Tire  carts  were  made  wholly  of  wood,  the 
harness  of  raw-hide — everything  being  of  the  utmost  simplic- 
ity, and  of  little  expense.  Not  a  bit  of  iron  about  the  carts  ; 
not  a  buckle  about  the  harness  ! 


CHAPTEK  YIL 

During  the  season  of  1849  several  changes  were  made  in  the 
command  at  the  Fort.  Brevet-Major  Lewis  A.  Armistead,  first 
lieutenant  of  company  E,  arrived  and  assumed  command  of 
the  company.  Major  Armistead  was  a  son  of  a  famous  general 
in  the  army.  A  Virginian  by  birth,  he  followed  the  destinies 
of  his  state  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  became  an  officer  of 
high  rank  in  the  confederate  army,  and  was  killed  in  Pickett's 
celebrated  charge  at  Gettysburg.  General  Armistead, 
near  the  close  of  the  charge  placed  his  hat  on  his  sword, 
rallied  what  men  he  could,  and  rushed  on  to  the  conflict,  where 
he  fell  pierced  with  bullets. 

Another  arrival  early  in  October  was  that  of  Brevet-second- 
lieutenant  Bichard  W.  Johnson,  assigned  to  company  C 
Lieutenant  Johnson  was  just  from  West  Point.  He  was  the 
youngest  officer  at  the  Fort.  Full  of  bright  hopes  and  antici- 
pations, his  presence  added  much  to  the  interesting  events 
that  always  occur  in  garrison  life.  There  is  nothing  that 
causes  young  officers  to  be  so  completely  contented  with  their 
work,  when  first  assigned  to  duty,  (usually  at  some  distant 
frontier  post, )  after  graduating  at  West  Point,  as  the  society 
of  beautiful  and  accomplished  young  ladies.  The  vicinity  of 
the  Fort,  during  Lieutenant  Johnson's  first  year  at  that  place 
was  particularly  fortunate  in  this  respect.  He  became 
engaged  to,  and  eventually  married,  one  of  the  most  charming 
of  them — Miss  Kachel  Steele,  a  sister  of  Franklin  Steele  and 
of  Mrs.  General  Sibley  and  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Potts.  Lieutenant 
Johnson's  promotion  in  the  army  was  rapid.  He  passed 
through  all  the  different  grades  of  rank,  and  retired  in  conse- 
quence of  severe  wounds  received  in  battle,  with  the  rank  of 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  37 

major-generul.  Minnesotians  are  proud  of  his  record,  as  he 
is  identified  with  us.  Since  he  retired  from  the  army  he  has 
been  one  of  our  best  citizens.  His  home  is  in  8t.  PauL 
Having  led  an  eventful  and  useful  life,  he  is  now  reaping  the 
fruits  of  his  labor,  honored  by  the  whole  community. 

The  first  general  election  after  the  organization  of  the  ter- 
ritory was  held  in  August.  Hon.  H.  H.  Sibley  was  elected 
territorial  delegate  to  congress.  The  few  citizens  at  Fort 
Snelliug  went  to  Mendota  to  vote.  Hon.  Martin  McLeod,  of 
Lac-qui-parle,  was  honored,  on  the  occasion,  with  a  seat  in 
the  upper  house  of  the  legislature  ;  and  the  respected  Dakota 
missionary.  Rev.  G.  H.  Pond,  and  Alex.  Bailey,  were  elected 
delegates  to  the  lower  house. 

In  June,  Colonel  James  Hughes  arrived  in  St.  Paul,  from 
the  east,  with  an  outfit  for  a  first-class  weekly  newspaper. 
He  soon  disposed  of  his  interest  in  it  to  Major  N.  McLean 
and  Colonel  John  P.  Owens,  who  issued  the  Chronicle  and 
Register — a  rival  to  the  Pioneer. 

A  United  States  court  was  held  August  20th,  1849,  in  the 
old  government  mill  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Falls  of  St. 
Anthony.  Judge  B.  B.  Meeker  presided.  The  jurisdiction 
of  the  court  covered  many  thousand  square  miles  of  territory. 
Franklin  Steele  M-as  foreman  of  the  grand  jury.  After  a 
session  of  two  days,  the  court  adjourned  without  transacting 
any  business.  This  was  the  first  court  ever  held  in  what  is 
now  Minneapolis.  Thirty-nine  years  after  this  event  there 
are  four  district  judges  almost  constantly  in  session  at  the 
court-house,  a  few  blocks  distant  from  where  the  first  court 
was  held,  beside  two  municipal  judges  who  hold  daily  sessions, 
and  all  are  crowded  with  business.  To  the  best  of .  my 
knowledge,  there  is  not  a  member  of  the  first  court  held  in 
that  old  mill  alive  to-day.  The  judge  and  all  the  jury  have 
crossed  the  silent  river. 

Judge  Meeker  was  born  in  Connecticut,  on  the  13th  of 
March,  1813,  and  died  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  while  on  his 
way  east,  February  3,  1873,  aged  sixty  years.  Previous  to  his 
appointment  as  one  of  the  judges  in  Minnesota,  he  had  for 
some  years  resided  in  Kentucky,  and  was  appointed  from 
that  state.  He  was  closely  identified  with  Minnesota  during 
his  residence  here,  and  largely  contributed  to  its  prosperity. 


38  PERSONAL    EECOLLECTIONS 

The  county  of  Meeker  took  its  name  from  liim.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  constitutional  convention  which  was  held  in 
St.  Paul  in  1857.  Although  never  married,  he  took  a  great 
interest  in  the  schools  of  the  State  and  labored  incessantly 
for  their  benefit.  He  was  fond  of  agricultural  and  horticult- 
ural pursuits.  He  purchased  and  worked  a  farm  just  below 
and  bordering  on  old  St.  Anthony.  He  was  a  good  lawyer, 
an  honest  judge,  a  valuable  citizen,  unusiially  respected,  and 
his  death  was  regretted  by  the  community. 

VISIT    OF    MES.    SNELLING    TO    THE    FORT. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  events  of  the  summer  at  Fort 
Snelling,  in  1849,  was  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Abigail  Hunt 
Snelling,  widow  of  Colonel  Josiah  Snelling,  from  whom  the 
Fort  derived  its  name,  and  who  commanded  the  troops  during 
its  erection.  Mrs.  Snelling  was  the  mother  of  the  second 
white  child  born  in  what  is  now  Minnesota.  The  parentage 
of  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  territory  was  a  soldier  and 
his  wife.  The  wife  was  a  laundress  who  accompanied  Colonel 
Leavenworth's  command,  and  the  little  one  was  born  soon 
after  the  arrival  of  the  troops  near  the  junction  of  the  St. 
Peter  river  with  the  Mississippi,  early  in  September,  1819. 

Mrs.  Snelling  was  a  daughter  of  an  army  officer.  Colonel 
Hunt.  She  was  fifty-one  years  old  at  the  time  of  her  visit  to 
the  Fort,  but  had  been  a  widow  many  j'^ears.  She  was  with 
her  husband  when  he  commenced  building  the  Fort  in  1820, 
when  only  twenty- three  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Snelling  remained 
some  tim.e  at  the  Fort,  the  guest  of  the  commanding  officer, 
Colonel  Loomis.  On  her  first  visit  with  Colonel  Loomis 
after  her  arrival,  to  the  cemetery  which  contained  the  grave 
of  her  little  girl  who  was  gently  laid  to  rest  so  many  years 
before,  she  was  greatly  overcome  with  grief,  and  could  not  be 
comforted.  The  little  grave  had  been  well  cared  for ;  the 
sod  ui)on  it  was  green,  the  little  stone  monument  was  in 
place,  with  the  loved  letters  E.  S.  as  plain  as  on  the  day  the 
memorial  of  love  was  placed  over  the  precious  remains  so 
many  long  years  ago.  The  sad  scenes  attendant  upon  the 
sickness  and  death  of  the  dear  little  one,  "in  life's  early 
march,  when  her  bosom  was  young",    were   all  brought  back 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  39 

tp  the  fond  mother  as  vividly  as  they  were  more  than  a  score 
of  years  j^reviously. 

The  whole  garrison,  and  the  citizens  aroiiiid  the  Fort, 
endeavored  to  make  Mrs.  Snelling's  visit  i)leasant.  In  leaving 
the  grand  old  fortress  which  her  hnshaiid  Imilt,  she  gratefully 
tendered  her  thanks  to  those  who  had  contributed  to  her 
comfort  during  lier  visit  to  her  early  home. 

REV.    E.    D.    NEILL. 

After  Colonel  Loomis  assumed  command  in  1840  he  fre- 
quently invited  the  different  ministers  of  the  gospel  to  occupy 
Dr.  Gear's  pulpit  in  the  little  chapel,  when  it  was  not  filled 
by  the  doctor  himself.  Rev.  E.  D.  Neill,  then  a  young  man, 
who  had  just  come  to  St.  Paul,  gave  us  an  occasional  sermon. 
He  was  a  great  favorite  with  Colonel  Loomis  and  the  rank 
and  file  of  the  old  Sixth  Infantry.  One  pleasant  mid-summer 
Sunday  we  were  greatly  alarmed  when  informed  that  Mr. 
Neill,  who  was  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Neill,  while  on  his  way 
to  preach  io  us  had,  in  consequence  of  an  accident,  fallen 
over  the  precij:)ice  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  the 
Fort.  Fortunately  they  received  but  little  injury.  As  usual 
Mr.  Neill  gave  us  a  useful  and  instructive  sermon.  The  next 
day  Colonel  Loomis  came  to  Philander  Prescott  and  myself 
and  said  he  had  taxed  himself  twenty  dollars,  Mr.  Prescott 
ten,  and  myself  five,  to  be  handed  to  Mr.  Neill  as  a  small 
"thanksgiWng  token"  for  the  i)rovidential  escape  of  his  wife 
and  himself  when  thrown  from  the  carriage  the  jjrevious  day. 
We  accordingly  waited  upon  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neill,  who  were  at 
Colonel  Loomis'  headcpiarters,  but  Mr.  Neill  would  only 
accept  the  small  tribute  as  a  bestowal  to  the  American  Board 
tif  Missions,  iiiider  whose  auspices  he  was  preaching  the 
gospel  in  the  then  far-northwest. 

Minnesota  was  i)eculiarly  fortunate  in  the  advent  of  many 
of  its  early  settlers  ;  but  to  no  one  is  the  state  more  indebted 
for  a  combination  of  eA'erything  that  is  desirable  in  one  per- 
son, than  to  Mr.  Neill.  As  a  Christian  minister,  writer, 
patriot,  and  philanthropist,  his  name  will  be  handed  down  to 
fixture  generations,  and  his  memory  will  be  ever  revered  by 
those  who  have  the  good  of  the  world  at  heart.  To  him  we  are 
greatly  indebted  for  perfecting  our  system  of  common  schools. 


40  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

Once  in  a  wliile  Dr.  Williamson  was  with  us.  He  had  been 
so  long  a  missionary  with  the  Indians  that  his  style  of  jjreach- 
ing  was  difPerent  from  that  of  most  sermonizers  of  the  day. 
His  language  was  so  simple  that  every  one  could  readily 
understand  what  he  said.  His  sermons  were  mostly  composed 
of  words  of  one  syllable — but  they  were  always  effective. 

Major  E.  G.  Murphy  was  the  United  States  Indian  Agent 
at  Fort  Snelling  in  1849.  He  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  but 
had  been  a  resident  of  PinckneyAalle,  in  southern  Illinois, 
from  boyhood.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church — 
and  a  democrat  of  the  firmest  type  ;  a  man  of  strong  preju- 
dices, but  thoroughly  honest.  He  made  a  good  agent  for  the 
Dakotas.  Their  interests  were  looked  after  and  righteously 
cared  for.     No  trader  was  suffered  to  take  advantage  of  them. 

Most  of  the  Indian  tribes  on  the  continent  are  impro\4dent. 
The  Dakotas  are  perhaps  more  so  than  many  others.  If 
their  himger  is  satisfied  to-day,  they  are  likely  to  neglect  to 
provide  that  which  will  be  necessary  for  their  stomachs  to- 
morrow. Major  Murphy  had  been  brought  up  to  observe  the 
rule  that  it  is  necessary  to  look  out  for  the  future  needful 
supply  of  the  wants  of  the  "inner  man",  and  he  could  not 
understand  why  his  Indians  should  neglect  such  an  important 
requisite  that  they  might  not  suffer  from  hunger.  He  found 
it  quite  impossible  to  instill  into  them  the  habits  or  principles 
of  economy,  and  as  a  result  the  agency  was  besieged  daily  by 
a  lot  of  beggars  for  bread  and  meat. 

Having  from  boyhood  lived  on  the  frontier,  which  was  more 
or  less  traversed  by  the  Winnebagoes,  Sacs  and  Foxes,  Pot- 
tawatomies,  Chippeways  and  other  tribes,  I  found  the  Dakotas 
more  given  to  fault-finding  than  any  other  tribe.  In  fact 
they  gave  their  agent  but  little  rest.  In  those  early  days  the 
office  was  anything  but  a  pleasant  one.  In  order  to  better 
their  condition,  Indians  must  be  taught  the  important  lesson 
that  manual  labor  is  not  degrading.  When  they  shall  be 
convinced  of  this,  it  will  not  be  a  great  task  to  civilize  them. 
They  must  be  brought  to  the  knowledge  that  to  hold  the  plow 
is  an  honorable  as  well  as  a  necessary  occupation.  The  idea 
that  "  the  only  good  Indian  is  a  dead  Indian",  is  simply 
absurd.  There  is  a  blossom  in  the  wilderness  of  the  heart  of 
almost  every  Indian.  Yet  when  aroused  the  red  man  is 
capable  of  committing  the  most  horrible  outrages. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

Ill  1849  there  were  only  two  garrisons  in  the  territory — 
Fort  Snelling  and  Fort  Ripley.  The  latter  was  first  called 
Gaines,  but  was  changed  to  Ripley.  It  was  commanded  by 
Captain  J,  B.  F.  Todd,  Co.  A  of  the  Sixth.  Previous  to  the 
advent  of  the  Winnebagoes  at  Long  Prairie  the  military  post 
in  the  extreme  upper  valley  of  the  Mississippi  was  ample  for 
the  jjrotection  of  the  white  and  red  population.  Fort  Ripley 
was  commenced  in  the  fall  of  1848,  and  finished  the  next 
yea 

Captain  Todd  was  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  Abraham  Lincoln.  He 
was  transferred  from  Fort  Ripley  to  the  Missouri,  and  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  Yankton,  for  some  time  the  capital  of 
Dakota.  He  retired  from  the  army,  and  was  twice 
elected  a  delegate  to  congress  from  Dakota.  On  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  he  was  made  a  general  in  the 
army,  and  died  during  the  war.  A  county  in  Minnesota  takers 
its  name  from  General  TodcL 

Cajrtain  Dana,  another  officer  at  Fort  Ripley,  rose  also  to 
the  rank  of  major-general  during  the  war.  Brevet-Captain 
Geo.  W.  Long,  at  one  time  military  secretary  to  General 
Scott,  was  lieutenant  in  Captain  Todd's  comijany.  He  became 
a  confederate  general,  but  did  not  survive  the  war.  All  of 
these  officers  were  frequent  visitors  at  Fort  Snelling  during 
the  year  1849. 

RETURN   OF   THE   RED  RIVER   EXPEDITION. 

The  command  of  Major  Woods  returned  from  the  Red 
river  expedition  early  in  October.     The  object  of  the  expedi- 


42  PERSONAL    RECOLLETCIONS 

tion  was  to  establish  the  exact  boundary  line  between  Minne- 
sota and  Canada  ;  to  set  monuments  thereon  ;  to  locate  the 
site  of  a  military  post  on  or  near  the  line  ;  to  gather  infonua- 
tion  in  regard  to  the  prospective  agricultural  resources  of  the 
A'alley  of  the  Red  river  of  the  North,  and  the  country  between 
the  Fort  and  the  northwest,  and  to  make  a  thorough  topo- 
graphical survey  of  the  whole  country.  The  report  of  Captain 
Pope  contained  so  much  valuable  information  in  regard  to 
the  new  country  that  it  was  deemed  necessary  by  congress  to 
publish  it.  The  command  during  the  long  and  tedious  jour- 
ney had  excellent  health,  and  enjoyed  rare  sj)ort  in  hunting 
bufPalo,  several  herds  of  which  they  found.  Lightning  struck 
Lieutenant  Nelson's  tent  one  night  while  encamped  on  the 
borders  of  a  lake  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  territory. 
He  received  a  serious  injury  therefrom,  and  did  not  entirely 
recover  from  the  stroke  for  many  years. 

FIRST   SESSION    OF   THE   TERRITORIAL   LEGISLATURE. 

The  first  legislature  of  the  territory  convened  in  St.  Paul 
on  the  3d  of  September,  in  the  old  Central  hotel,  where  Gov- 
ernor Ramsey  delivered  his  message.  Some  nine  counties 
were  created,  viz  :  Istaska,  Waubashaw,  Dahkotah,  Wahnah- 
tah,  Mahkakto,  Pembina,  Washington,  Ramsey,  and  Benton. 
The  names  of  many  of  these  counties  have  been  changed  by 
legislation.  Some  have  been  blotted  out  altogether  ;  while  a 
decided  improvement  in  the  spelling  of  all  of  them  of  Indian 
origin  has  been  made.  Hon.  David  Olmstead,  of  Long  Prairie, 
was  elected  president  of  the  council,  and  Hon.  Joseph  W. 
Furber  was  elected  speaker  of  the  house. 

NEGOTIATIONS    WITH    THE    INDIANS. 

There  was  a  great  gathering  of  the  Indians  in  October  on 
the  flats  between  the  St.  Peter  or  Minnesota  river  and  the 
trading  posts  at  Mendota.  They  had  concentrated  to  meet 
Governor  Ramsey,  and  ex-Governor  Chambers  of  Iowa,  who 
had  been  api)ointed  commissioners,  on  the  part  of  the  govern- 
ment, to  make  a  treaty  in  relation  to  ceding  their  lands  west 
of  the  Mississii)j)i.  The  proposed  treaty  was  a  failure  in  con- 
sequence of  the  absence  of  a  majority  of  the  Indians  ;  but  the 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  43 

half-breed  tract,   so   called,    Ijordering  on  Lake  Pepin,  was 
secured. 

FOltMATION    OF    A    LITERARY    SOCIETY. 

The  8t.  Anthony  Library  Association,  incorporated  by  an 
act  of  the  legislature,  late  in  the  fall  inaugurated  a  series  of 
lectures.  Eev.  E.  D.  Neill,  Rev.  Dr.  Gear,  Hon.  Wni.  R. 
Marshall,  and  Lieutenant  E.  AY.  Johnson,  among  others, 
lectured  before  the  association. 

During  the  season  of  1849  St.  Anthony  made  great  progress 
in  the  erection  of  houses,  and  in  other  improvements.  Most 
of  the  immigration  was  from  Maine.  The  people  brought 
their  habits  of  industry  and  economy  with  them  ;  nor  did 
they  leave  behind  their  fondness  for  reading,  and  for  attend- 
ing church.  The  people  at  that  early  day  set  a  good 
example  to  their  contemporaries  in  other  portions  of  the 
new  northwest. 

PHILANDER   PRESCOTT. 

During  the  year  I  boarded  with  the  United  States  Indian 
interpreter,  Philander  Prescott,  whose  residence  was  just 
outside  of  the  Fort  and  next  to  that  of  the  Indian  Agent. 
Mr.  Prescott  came  up  with  the  troops  in  1819,  as  a  clerk  for 
the  sutler.  He  soon  became  a  trader  among  the  Indians,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Columbia  Fur  Company.  Like  many 
of  the  early  traders,  he  purchased  a  Dakota  girl  for  his  wife. 
She  accompanied  him  in  visiting  his  numerous  trading  outfits, 
where  he  exchanged  goods  for  furs.  Children  were  born  to 
him.  He  became  dissatisfied  with  his  northwestern  posses- . 
sions.  He  had  never  married  the  Indian  woman  excei:)t  in 
the  Indian  fashion  :  tliat  is,  he  gave  a  pony  and  some  goods 
for  her  to  her  parents.  It  did  not  seem  difficult  or  cruel  to 
abandon  her.  Other  traders  left  their  wives  and  children — 
why  shoiild  not  he  ?  She  was  abundantly  able  to  care  for 
herself,  his  and  her  children,  for  their  wants  were  few  ; 
and  she  had  well-to-do  relatives  Indians  of  course,  but 
Indians  are  fond  of  their  kith  and  kin.  He  had  made  some 
money  ;  he  would  sell  his  interests  and  make  more  ;  then 
he  would  leave  all  and  go  south  to  Texas  or  some  other  jolace, 
and  start  anew  without  incumbrances — wife,  child,  or  chick. 
He  made  his  way  down  the  Mississippi,  traversed  Texas  and 


44  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Louisiana,  visited  tlie  Choctaw,  Creek,  and  Chickasaw 
Indians,  but  found  poor  prospects  for  starting  a  new  busi- 
ness in  the  lower  country.  He  spent  two  or  three  years  in 
hunting  and  traveling.  It  is  probable  that,  discoiiraged,  once 
in  a  while  he  indulged  in  fire-water  to  a  greater  extent  than 
was  for  his  good. 

A   SPIRITUAL   AWAKENING. 

While  Mr.  Prescott  was  near  the  head-waters  of  the  Sabine 
river,  he  visited  a  religious  protracted-meeting,  which  was 
attended  pretty  much  by  Crackers.  He  became,  through  the 
influence  of  the  preacher,  a  changed  man.  Although  several 
thousand  miles  away  from  the  Dakota  wife  and  chilcren  that 
he  had  abandoned — who  were  wandering  with  the  mother's 
tribe  over  the  plains — he  determined  to  return  to  them  at 
once,  and  do  what  he  should  have  done  at  first — marry  the 
woman  according  to  the  rules  of  Christianity.  After  a  long 
journey  he  landed  at  the  St.  Peter  agency,  when  he  found 
that  the  mother  of  his  children  was  away  beyond  the  coteaus 
in  the  buffalo  range  of  the  Missouri  valley.  With  his  pack 
on  his  back  he  started  in  search  of  her.  It  was  mid-summer 
when  he  found  her.  Poor  Indian  woman  that  she  was,  she 
was  overjoyed  to  see  him,  but  could  not  understand  why  he 
would  not  live  with  her  any  more  as  his  wife,  until  after  a 
long  journey  should  be  made  to  find  a  regularly  ordained 
minister  of  the  gospel,  and  they  should  be  married  in  the 
eame  manner  as  the  white  folks.  After  urging,  coaxing,  and 
praying,  he  persuaded  her  to  leave  her  people  and,  with  her 
children,  the  broad  prairies  were  crossed,  the  home  of  a  mis- 
sionary was  found,  the  solemn  marriage  rites  were  performed, 
and  at  the  same  time  and  by  the  same  holy  ordinance  his 
children  were  made  legitimate. 

Mr.  Prescott  has  often  spoken  to  me  of  the  great  privation 
and  Bufl'ering  that  attended  this  (to  him)  sacred  pilgrimage. 
That  Indian  woman  was  an  excellent  housekeeper,  fond  of 
her  domestic  duties,  an  affectionate  wife,  and  a  good  mother. 
It  could  not  well  bo  otherwise  when  we  consider  that  she  had 
a  noble,  Christian  husl)and.  Her  hospitable  house  was  always 
fidl  of  peox>le.  It  was  the  only  roof  at  Fort  Snelling  that 
afforded  a  stopping-place  for  travelers  and  strangers. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A    FRONTIEll   WEDDING. 

At  the  period  mentioned  in  the  last  chapter,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Philander  Prescott  had  grown  to 
womanhood.  Her  father  had  sent  her  abroad  for  an  educa- 
tion. She  was  like  a  bird  about  the  old  stone  building, 
singing  and  making  everyone  happy.  I  never  wondered  that 
her  father  so  fondly  loved  her. 

A  young  man  of.  excellent  character  from  Illinois  was 
employed  around  the  missionary  grounds  and  the  Indian 
fanns.  He  was  a  C^hristian  man ;  she  was  a  Christian  girl. 
His  heart  yearned  for  her  ;  his  life  needed  her  ;  she  alone 
could  be  its  strength,  its  beauty,  its  crowTi.  It  was  the  same 
old,  old  story,  but  ever  new — the  story  Adam  first  told  to 
Eve  in  the  world's  fresh  morning,  among  the  first  fair  flowers 
and  the  harmonies  of  Eden — the  story  that  man  has  told  to 
woman  ever  since ;  as  sweet,  as  solemn,  as  all-consecrating 
and  all-comprehending  now  as  when  it  was  first  whispered 
under  skies  which  no  storm-cloud  had  ever  darkened.  The 
result  was  that  one  evening,  just  at  the  close  of  the  old  year 
and  the  begiiming  of  the  new,  there  was  a  large  gathering  at 
the  old  weather-beaten  homestead.  There  were  officers  of  high 
rank  in  the  army,  in  full  uniform,  with  their  wives  ;  officers 
holding  high  trusts  in  civil  positions,  with  their  wives  and 
daughters ;  gentlemen,  with  their  ladies,  in  full  evening 
costume  ;  and  men  and  women  whose  fathers  were  white  and 
mothers  were  red  ;  Dakota  relatives  and  friends  of  the 
bride  in  their  blankets — making  in  all  about  as  curious  an 


46  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

assembly,  as  unique  a  gathering,  as  ever  attended  a  Avedding 
feast,  and  one  that,  as  Rev.  Mr.  Neill  (who  officiated  on  the 
occasion)  says,  "could  only  be  seen  on  the  outposts  of 
civilization." 

AT    THE    MARRIAGE    FEAST. 

A  varied  feast  followed  the  wedding  ceremony — one  which 
pleased  the  white  people,  and  delighted  the  red  guests.  The 
father  was  seemingly  the  happiest  man  in  the  territory  that 
night — scarcely  excepting  the  groom.  What  a  shadow  of  the 
memory  of  the  past  was  thrown  over  the  father  of  the 
bride  that  eventful  evening  !  None  of  us  could  persuade 
the  mother  to  appear  in  the  parlor  during  the  marriage  cere- 
mony, but  immediately  afterwards  she  waited  on  the  guests, 
and  was  doubtless  as  pleased  as  was  her  husband  that  her 
daughter  was  wedded  to  a  white  Christian.  The  bride's 
Indian  uncles,  aunts,  and  cousins  were  present,  wrapped  in 
their  blankets,  and  viewed  the  ceremony  M'ith  seemingly  cold, 
weary,  and  stolid  countenances,  through  the  parlor  doors. 

OTHER    INCIDENTS    AND    CHARACTERS   AT    THE    FORT. 

During  September  there  were  two  deaths  at  Fort  Snelling. 
One  of  them  was  that  of  an  old  discharged  soldier,  Charles 
Wilson,  formerly  of  the  First  infantry,  who  had  been  in  the 
employment  of  Mr.  Steele  for  several  years.  Previous  to  the 
death  of  his  wife,  he  had  lived  in  St.  Anthony,  holding  a  claim 
for  its  owner.  It  is  said,  on  pretty  good  authority,  that  he 
was  the  first  actual  white  resident  of  the  eastern  bank  of  the 
Falls,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  assertion  is  true. 
He  w^as  a  faithful  man,  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  in  early 
life  enlisted  in  the  army,  served  many  years  in  it,  and  was 
discharged  at  Fort  Snelling,  when  he  took  charge  of  the 
teams  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  sutler's  store.  He  always 
forded  the  Mississipi)i  river,  with  his  teams,  at  the  Falls  just 
above  the  precipice.  When  the  dam  was  built,  on  the  east 
side,  it  became  necessary  to  have  a  ferry,  as  the  old  roadway 
from  the  east  side  of  the  island  to  the  main  shore  was  occu- 
pied by  the  dam.  He  never  became  reconciled  to  the  idea  of 
the  public  highway,  as  he  called  it,  being  obstructed  in  the 
manner  that  it  was,  and  lamented  the  signs  of  civilization  and 


OF    MINNKSOTA    AND    IT«    I'KOl'U:.  47 

improvement.  AVilsou  whs  a  ninii  of  ability,  but  some  strange 
misfortune  })ofell  liini  in  liis  early  days,  wliicli  clouded  his 
whole  life. 

A  SQUAW-MAN. 

Wilson's  only  son  became  a  squaw  man,  whose  services 
were  in  great  demand  as  a  violinist  diiring  the  winter.  He 
became  dissipated,  married  an  Indian  woman,  and  adopted 
all  the  Indian  habits — breech-clout,  blanket  and  all  !  The 
last  that  I  saw  of  him  was  in  the  valley  of  the  Minnesota, 
moving  with  (rood  Road's  band,  to  wliich  tribe  his  wife 
belonged,  up  the  river.  He  had  one  of  his  little  pappooses  on 
his  back,  trudging  along,  and  relieving,  for  the  time  being, 
the  mother  of  some  of  her  many  burdens.     Poor  AVilson  ! 

DEATH     OF     AN     UNKNOWN     MAN   -HIS    SECRET    UNliEVEALED. 

About  the  time  of  Charles  Wilson's  death,  an  eastern  man 
was  taken  sick  at  Mr.  Prescott's.  Everything  possible  was 
done  for  him.  Dr.  McLaren,  the  surgeon  at  the  Fort,  was  in 
constant  attendance,  but  his  patient  only  lived  for  a  few  days. 
Every  effort  was  made  to  find  out  where  his  friends  lived,  but 
without  success.  Far  from  home  and  relatives,  he  died  among 
strangers,  but  they  were  friendly  and  gave  him  a  Christian 
burial  out  at  the  citizens'  cemetery  on  Morgan's  Bluff.  His 
secret  as  to  his  identity  was  sealed  with  his  expiring  breath 
beyond  the  penetration  of  mortal  man. 

DEPENDENCE    T'PON   THE    LOWER    COUNTRY. 

The  steamers  during  the  fall  of  1840  were  taxed  to  their 
utmost  capacity  in  handling  the  large  amount  of  freight  nec- 
essary to  be  brought  into  the  new  territory  for  the  use  of  the 
old  as  well  as  the  new  settlers.  It  should  be  remembered 
that  at  that  time  Mimiesota  was  not  producing  agricultural 
products.  A^  ith  the  exception  of  what  was  raised  by  the 
little  colony  of  farmers  who  resided  in  AVashington  county, 
everything  cousuukmI  by  the  people  had  to  be  brought  up  the 
river  from  Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Missouri.  Even  the  grain  nec- 
essary to  be  fed  to  the  horses  was  secured  in  the  lower  country. 
Yast  quantities  of  })rovisions  were  imi)orted  into  the  territory. 


48  PEBSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Whole  cargoes  of  flour  and  pork  were  shipped  from  Galena, 
St.  Louis,  Quincy,  Hannibal,  and  Dubuque.  Sugar,  tea, 
coffee,  and  molasses — the  luxuries  of  life — were  brought  in 
less  quantities.     Whisky  was  deemed  almost  a  necessity. 

The  territory  was  almost  completely  drained  of  money  to 
pay  the  freight  bills  due  to  the  steamboats.  It  was  a  real 
relief  to  the  merchants  when  the  smoke  of  the  last  steamer  of 
the  season  disappeared  down  stream,  as  their  purses  could 
only  be  replenished  after  navigation  closed. 

During  the  month  of  June  several  of  the  missionaries 
among  the  Dakotas  gathered  at  the  St.  Peter  agency  at  Fort 
Snelling.  It  was  at  this  meeting  that  I  first  became  acquainted 
with  Dr.  Stephen  R.  Riggs  and  Rev.  Moses  N.  Adams.  I  had 
met  Rev.  Gideon  H.  Pond  a  few  days  previous  to  the  general 
attendance  at  the  agency.  His  brother.  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Pond, 
preached  the  annual  sermon  in  Mr.  Prescott's  house  on  Sun- 
day. Major  Murphy,  the  Indian  agent,  pronounced  it  the 
best  religious  discourse  he  ever  heard— not  the  most  learned, 
but  for  the  occasion  the  most  appropriate. 

June  also  brought  most  of  the  Indian  traders  to  Fort  Snel- 
ling and  Mendota.  Among  them  were  Hon.  Martin  McLeod, 
Hon,  N.  W.  Kittson,  and  Hon.  Joseph  R.  Brown — though  the 
last  named  was  at  that  time  more  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade. 

There  were  many  old  settlers  and  pioneers  in  the  vicinity 
of  Fort  Snelling  and  Mendota.  Some  of  them  were  men  of 
great  merit  :  such  as  Hon.  Samuel  J.  Findley,  Peter  Quinn, 
John  B.  Faribault  who  was  a  Canadian  of  French  descent, 
Hazen  Moores  who  was  an  Indian  farmer  for  Black  Dog's 
village,  Francis  Gammel  who  was  the  ferryman  at  St.  Peter 
nver,  Victor  Chatel  the  blacksmith  for  the  Lake  Calhoun 
and  Lake  Harriet  band  of  Indians,  and  Hypolite  Dupuy  who 
was  Governor  Sibley's  bookkeeper.  Many  of  these  were  in 
the  employ  of  the  Fur  company  and  the  Indian  department. 
A  venerable  man  by  the  name  of  Edwards,  anif  his  wife  who 
was  a  mixed  blood  of  Indian,  negro,  and  white,  were  employed 
at  the  agency,  the  latter  being  Major  Murphy's  housekeeper. 
Among  tl^e  men  at  Mendota  at  that  time,  of  great  influence, 
was  Rev.  A.  Ravoux,  j)astor  of  the  Catholic  church  at  that  place. 
Father  Ravoux  came  to  this  country  at  an  early  day  and  labored 
on  the  Minnesota  river  at  Chaska  for  the  i^ood  of  the  Indians. 


CHAPTER   X. 

GAME    IN   THE   EARLY   DAYS. 

Game  was  plenty  in  those  early  times  in  Minnesota.  Indians 
■were  plenty  too  ;  "but  some  way  the  more  Indians  the  more 
game.  At  the  proper  season  of  the  year  elk-  bufPalo-  and 
bear-steaks,  could  be  obtained  at  very  reasonable  rates,  while 
there  seemed  no  end  of  wild  geese  and  ducks  in  the  fall 
and  spring.  Prairie-chickens  were  abundant,  but  there  were 
few  quails.  Mr.  Steele  tried  the  experiment  of  introducing 
quails  into  the  country.  He  had  a  large  number  of  them 
brought  up  the  river  in  the  fall.  They  were  taken  out  to 
Morgan's  bluff,  some  two  miles  from  the  Fort,  and  given  their 
liberty.  At  the  same  time  he  deposited  wheat,  oats,  and  corn, 
in  the  immediate  vicinity,  so  that  they  would  not  suffer  for 
the  want  of  food.  The  birds  seemed  to  go  through  the  first 
winter  in  good  condition,  but  in  the  spring  of  the  second 
year  there  were  none  left  ;  they  all  perished  during  the 
extreme  cold  winter  months.  As  there  was  no  grain  raised 
in  the  country  it  was  thought  by  many  that  they  starved 
to'death  ;  but  it  was  e\idently  too  cold  for  them.  Probably 
if  there  had  been  grain-stacks  or  fields  of  cornstalks  in  the 
neighborhood,  for  them  to  winter  in — which  would  have 
afforded  not  only  protection,  but  food — the  result  might  have 
been  different.  Yet  since  the  country  has  become  so  thickly 
settled,  and  every  protection  has  been  afforded  them,  tpiails 
have  never  become  plenty.  The  Indians  claimed  they  never 
would  become  numerous,  because  of  the  extreme  cold. 

Partridges  were  found  in  great  abundance  in  the  wooded 
and  brush  lands.  The  wild  pigeons  were  the  most  numerous 
'     4 


50  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

of  all  birds.  The  sky  would  for  days,  at  certain  hours,  be 
almost  obscured  by  them.  For  several  years  they  were  taken 
in  great  numbers  in  nets.  Strange  to  say,  they  have  almost 
disappeared  from  their  old  visiting-places.  They  do  not  now 
even  fly  over  the  state.  It  is  singular  what  has  become  of 
them. 

Fish  then,  as  now,  were  caught  in  great  numbers.  The 
New  England  speckled  trout  sported  in  many  of  the  clear 
streams  in  southern  Miunesota. 

Most  of  the  large  game  disappeared  with  the  departure  of 
the  Indians.  It  was  by  no  means  a  difficult  task,  in  the  early 
fifties,  to  obtain  all  the  meat  necessary  for  one's  household, 
from  the  fruits  of  the  chase.  Wild  bees,  too,  were  abundant 
in  the  portion  of  the  country  known  as  the  "  big  woods"  ;  but 
with  the  disappearance  of  the  shadow  of  the  tall  oak,  the 
wild,  busy  bee  is  a  thing  of  the  past. 

Most  of  the  valuable  fur-bearing  animals — the  great  staple 
of  pre-territorial  times — are  gone  too.  A  family  of  otter  had 
a  real  nice  home  in  what  is  now  known  as  Bassett's  creek, 
where  Fourth  street  crosses  it  in  this  city,  when  I  lived  alone 
on  the  bank  of  the  river  where  the  Union  depot  is  built.  In 
fact  they  were  resident  there  some  years  afterwards.  The 
cowardly  wolves,  but  in  greatly  reduced  numbers,  still 
remain.  They  appear  to  be  too  mean  to  follow  the  Indian. 
The  bear  is  still  found,  but  not  one  where  there  were  ten 
forty  years  ago. 

There  are  many  more  birds  here  now  than  there  were  in 
those  days.  The  meadow-lark,  the  bobolink,  the  blue-bird, 
the  robin,  and  several  other  feathered  songsters,  followed  the 
whites  to  their  new  home  ;  while  the  eagle  went  with  the 
red-men  ;  yet  the  owls  and  hawks,  in  limited  numbers,  are 
here  yet.  The  black-bird  is  an  emigrant,  following  the  pio- 
neer, sharing  and  devouring  the  seed  that  is  sown  and  the 
grain  that  is  raised.  It  is  pretty  well  demonstrated  that  all 
the  desirable  birds — in  this  part  of  the  northwest,  at  least — 
if  we  excejjt  those  of  migratory  habits — are  fond  of  frequent- 
ing the  haunts  of  civilized  man.  While  many  varieties  are 
found  in  unsettled  portions  of  the  continent,  our  favorites, 
such  as  robins  and  blue-birds,  are  partial  to  the  homes  and 
surroundings  of  white  men. 


The  Eahly  Missionaries  to  the  Indians  in  Minnesota. 


CHAPTER  XL 

MISSIONARY   GIDEON   HOLLISTEE   POND. 

Frequently  on  Sundays,  in  1849,  after  the  morning  service 
in  the  little  chapel  at  Fort  Snelling,  Colonel  Loomis  would* 
suggest  that  we  go,  so  soon  as  we  had  lunched,  to 
the  Oak  Grove  mission,  and  listen  to  the  usually  excellent 
afternoon  sermon  by  Kev.  G.  H.  Pond.  The  colder  the 
weather  the  more  anxious  the  colonel  would  be  to  make  the 
trip.  The  distance  was  at  least  ten  miles  on  the  ice.  He 
would  not  have  a  driver,  nor  use  on  such  occasions  a  team 
belonging  to  the  government,  but  had  his  own  sleigh  and 
drove  his  own  horses.  In  the  forenoon  Mr.  Pond  usually 
preached  to  the  Indians  in  their  own  langiiage,  and  in  the 
afternoon  to  the  whites  who,  besides  his  own  family,  were 
mostly  employed  in  the  interest  of  the  Indians.  These  meet- 
ings were  held  in  Mr.  Pond's  parlors.  It  mattered  not  if 
there  were  half-a-dozen  present  or  a  full  house — he  preached 
in  the  same  earnest  manner  for  the  welfare  of  his  fellow-men. 

Rev.  G.  H.  Pond  was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  1810.  He 
came  to  the  land  of  the  Dakotas,  with  his  elder  brother  Sam- 
uel W.  Pond,  in  1834,  and  located  at  Lake  Calhoun,  where 
they  built  a  log  cabin  on  the  margin  of  the  lake  and  com- 
menced farming  among  the  Indians.  The  Indian  agent, 
Major  Taliaferro,  resident  at  Fort  Snelling,  had  already  made 
some  effort  toward  civilizing  the  red  men.  Forty-three  years 
afterwards,  on  the  occasion  of  the  completion  of  a  hotel  at  the 
lake,  on  tlie  same  site  of  the  log  cabin,  Mr.  Pond  told  the 
story  of  his  settlement,  presenting  a  graphic  picture  of  the 
pioneer  days  in  that  locality.     He  says  :  "  The  old  structure 


52  PERSONAL    RECOLLETCIONS 

"  was  of  oak  logs,  carefully  peeled.  The  peeling  was  a  mistake. 
"  Twelve  feet  by  sixteen,  and  eight  feet  high,  were  the  dimen- 
"  sions  of  the  edifice.  Straight  poles  f  rord  the  tamarack  grove 
"  west  of  the  lake  formed  the  timbers  of  the  roof,  and  the 
"  roof  itself  was  of  the  bark  of  trees  which  grew  on  the  bank 
"  of  what  is  now  called  '  Bassett's  creek',  fastened  with  strings 
"  of  the  inner  bark  of  the  bass-wood.  A  partition  of  small 
"  logs  divided  the  house  into  two  rooms,  and  split  logs  fur- 
"  nished  material  for  the  floor.  The  ceiling  was  of  slabs  from 
"the  old  government  sawmill,  through  the  kindness  of  Major 
"  Bliss,  who  was  in  command  of  Fort  Snelling.  The  door 
"was  made  of  boards  sjjlit  from  a  log  with  an  axe,  having 
"  wooden  hinges  and  fastenings,  and  was  locked  by  pulling  in 
"the  latch-string.  The  single  window  was  the  gift  of  the 
►  "kind-hearted  Major  Lawrence  Taliaferro,  United  States 
"  Indian  agent.  The  cash  cost  of  the  building  was  one  shil- 
"  ling.  New  York  currency,  for  nails  used  in  and  about  the 
"door.  The 'formal  opening' exercises  consisted  in  reading 
"a  section  from  the  old  book  by  the  name  of  Bible,  and  prayer 
"to  Him  who  was  its  acknowledged  author.  The 'banquet' 
"consisted  of  mussels  from  the  lake,  flour  and  water.  The 
"  ground  was  selected  by  the  Indian  chief  of  the  Lake  Calhoun 
"band  of  Dakotas,  Man-of-the-sky,  by  which  he  showed  good 
"taste.  The  reason  he  gave  for  the  selection  was  that 'from 
"that  point  the  loons  would  be  visible  on  the  lake'.  The  old 
"chief  and  his  pagan  people  had  their  homes  on  the  surface 
"of  that  ground  in  the  bosom  of  which  now  sleep  the  bodies 
"  of  deceased  Christians  from  the  city  of  Minneapolis,  the 
"  Lake  wood  cemetery,  over  which  these  old  eyes  have  witnessed, 
"  dangling  in  the  night  breeze,  many  a  Chippeway  scalp,  in 
"  the  midst  of  horrid  chants,  yells,  and  wails,  widely  contrast- 
"ing  with  the  present  stillness  of  that  quiet  home  of  those 
"  'who  sleep  the  years  away'.  That  hut  was  the  home  of  the 
"  first  citizen  settlers  of  Hennepin  county,  perhaps  of  Minne- 
"  Bota,  the  first  school-room,  the  first  house  for  divine  worship, 
"and  the  first  mission  station  among  the  Dakota  Indians." 

Mr.  Pond  was  an  ardent  student  of  Indian  character,  and 
probably  came  the  nearest  of  any  of  the  missionaries  to  talk- 
ing like  a  Dakota,  and  knowing  how  an  Indian  felt.  His 
desire  to  experience  the  life  of  an  Indian  led  him,  in  1838,  to 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  53 

join  a  half  dozen  Indian  families  from  Lac-qui-parle  for  a 
hunt  on  the  upi)er  Chippewa  river.  The  occasion  of  their 
dei)artnre  was  when  the  ducks  began  to  fly  northward.  On 
the  way  they  experienced  a  cold  rain  and  a  flood.  The  win- 
dows of  heaven  wore  opened  for  the  rain  to  descend  as, 
seemingly,  they  had  never  been  opened  before  since  the  deluge. 
The  ducks  disappeared  and  there  was  a  famine  in  camp. 
The  half  dozen  tepees  dividecL  One  division  was  visited  by 
the  Ojibway  chief,  Hole-in-the-Day  with  ten  of  his  treacher- 
ous braves.  They  smoked  the  pipe  of  peace,  and  the  visitors 
were  royally  entertained  and  feasted  on  two  of  the  dogs 
belonging  to  their  hosts,  though  the  entertainers  themselves 
were  starving.  The  Chippeways  arose  in  the  night  and  cow- 
ardly and  treacherously  killed  their  Dakota  hosts  ( three  men 
and  ten  women  and  children).  Only  one  woman  and  one  boy 
escaped.  Mr.  Pond  did  not  happen  to  be  with  the  entertain- 
ing party.  He  helped  bury  the  eleven  mangled  bodies, 
breakfasted  on  muskrat,  and  started  alone,  on  foot,  in  haste, 
for  the  mission  at  Lac-qui-parle.  At  night  he  slept  without 
fire  or  supper.  Enriched  by  two  weeks'  experience  in  Indian 
savage  life,  he  was  rejoiced  to  be  at  home  with  his  scalp  and 
his  family.  In  other  words— those  of  one  of  his  brother 
missionaries — "  Mr.  Pond,  as  God  would  have  it,  was  not  then 
with  those  three  tents,  and  so  he  escaj^ed." 

Mr.  Pond  was  over  six  feet  in  hight,  was  twice  married, 
and  was  the  father  of  thirteen  children.  He  was  for  twenty 
years  pastor  of  the  church  at  Bloomington,  in  Hennepin 
county.  He  died  in  1878,  and  was  buried  in  his  own  parish, 
where  he  had  so  long,  faithfidly  and  acceptably  labored. 

MISSIONARY    SAMUEL   W.    POND. 

Among  the  missionaries  who  visited  the  St.  Peter  agency 
at  Fort  Snelling  in  1849,  there  was  no  one  who  attracted  more 
attention,  and  was  more  respected,  than  the  pioneer  in 
the  good  work,  liev.  Samuel  W.  Pond.  He  is  a  native  of 
Connecticut.  He  was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  his 
brother  Gideon  twenty-one,  when  they  joined  the  Congrega- 
tional church  of  their  native  town,  and  became  impressed  with 
the  idea  that  their  lives  should  be  devoted  to  the  good  of 


54 .  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

their  fellow-men.  How  nobly  the  venerable  Samuel  W.  Pond, 
whose  age  is  away  along  among  the  eighties,  has  carried  out 
those  early  intentions  !  Every  effort  of  his  long  life  has  been 
in  the  interest  of  mankind.  It  made  no  difPerence  whether 
those  who  required  his  aid  were  white,  black,  or  red  men  ;  all 
had  souls  and  the  same  Creator.  He  determined  to  go  forth 
and  labor  where  his  services  would  most  benefit  the  world. 
He  thought  his  labors  would  be  crowned  with  greater  s,ucces8 
outside  of  New  England  where  there  were  fewer  laborers  in 
the  field.     The  far  west  was  selected  as  a  field  for  work. 

Mr.  Pond  left  home  in  the  spring  of  1832,  and  after  a  tedi- 
ous journey  arrived  at  Galena,  Hlinois,  suffering  from  sick- 
ness. He  made  a  tour  through  Illinois,  on  horseback,  with 
Rev.  Aratus  Kent,  then  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
Galena.  During  this  journey  he  saw  many  Winnebagoes, 
which  first  turned  his  attention  to  the  Indians.  While  he 
was  engaged  in  missionary  work  in  Galena,  he  made  the 
acquaintance  of  a  man  who  had  resided  in  the  extreme  north- 
west, and  who  gave  him  an  account  of  the  Dakotas.  He 
determined  to  labor  for  the  good  of  this  people,  and  accord- 
ingly communicated  with  his  brother,  who  accepted  Jiis 
invitation  to  join  him,  in  the  spring  of  1834,  when  they 
would  visit  the  Minnesota  Indians. 

While  at  Galena  Mr.  Pond  was  fortunate  in  his  intimacy 
with  Mr.  Kent,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Connecticut.  Mr. 
Kent  arrived  at  Galena  in  1829,  and  from  that  time  to  his 
death  in  1869  was  an  earnest  and  faithful  minister  of  the 
gospel.  His  labors  in  an  early  day  extended  to  Minnesota, 
and  he  had  many  friends  among  the  pioneers  of  this  state. 
Mr.  Gideon  H.  Pond  joined  his  brother  at  Galena,  and 
the  two  left  that  place,  on  a  steamboat,  for  the  land  of  the 
Dakotas,  landing  at  Fort  Snelling  on  the  6th  of  May, 
1834.  At  Prairie  du  Chien  they  called  on  Rev.  David  Lowry, 
the  ancient  and  devoted  missionary  among  the  Winnebagoes, 
and  at  one  time  a  resident  of  Minnesota.  Mr.  Lowry,  like 
Mr.  Kent  and  almost  every  one  else,  thought  the  mission  of 
the  Messrs.  Pond  would  be  a  failure.  Even  the  zealous  and 
hopeful  junior  brother  was  led  to  exclaim,  "  We  are  engaging 
in  a  serious  enterprise." 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    I'EOPLE.  55 

Mr.  S.  H.  Pond,  gives  an  account  of  his  commencement  to 
learn  the  Dakota  hmguage.  From  a  m  liite  man  wlio  knew  a 
littl(^  of  the  langufiye  he  tmmd  out  how  to  ask  in  Dakota, 
"  AVhat  do  you  call  this  V"  He  wrote  this  down,  and  then 
approaching  a  Dakota  who  was  standing  by  a  i)ile  of  iron,  he 
asked  its  name.  He  jjromptly  replied.  "  I  have  always  had 
a  relish  for  studying  languages,"  says  Mr.  Pond,  and  "in 
"times  of  leisure  it  has  been  my  recreation,  and  I  have  often 
"  rejoiced  at  the  discovery  of  some  important  grammatical 
"  rule,  or  the  signitication  of  sojjio  obscure  word  or  sentence, 
"  but  no  other  acquisition  of  that  kind  ever  afforded  me  so 
"much  pleasure  as  it  did  then  to  be  able  to  say  in  Dakota, 
" 'What  do  you  call  this'?'  I  had  a  key  now  to  tln^  Dakota 
"names  of  visible  objects,  and  it  did  not  rust  in  my  hands  for 
"wantof  lase.  I  began  the  study  of  the  language  thereon 
"the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  without  an  interj)reter,  and 
"  my  brother  and  I  made  the  tirst  collection  of  words  for  the 
"future  dictionary." 

At  Prairie  du  Chien,  Rev.  Mr.  Lowry  did  not  hesitate  to 
say  to  the  brothers  th  *  they  "  were  engaged  in  a  very  foolish 
and  hopeless  undertaking".  They  said  little  to  him  in  reply, 
not  being  in  the  habit  of  argiiing  the  case  with  those  who 
were  trying  to  discourage  them.  From  Rev.  W.  T.  Boutwell, 
who  was  stationed  among  the  Pillagers  ( properly  so  named 
by  the  traders  )  at  Leech  Lake,  'they  received  the  first  words 
of  encouragement.  Mr.  Boutwell  made  a  heroic  effort  to  hold 
that  dangerous  outpost,  but  was  finally  compelled  to  abandon  it. 

At  Fort  Snelling  Mr.  Pond  was  informed  that  the  Kaposia 
band,  just  below  St.  Paul,  wanted  plowing  done,  and  had  a 
plow  and  oxen,  but  could  not  use  them,  so  he  volunteered  to 
go  down  and  help  them.  The  Indians  took  down  the  plow  in 
a  canoe  and  he  drove  down  the  oxen.  Mr.  Pond  says  :  "At 
"  Kaposia  the  chief  was  Big  Thunder,  the  father  of  Taoyate- 
"  duta  ( called  by  the  whites,  but  erroneously,  Little  Crow  ), 
"and  the  chief  soldier  was  Big  Iron.  These  two  held  the 
"  plow  alternately  while  I  drove  the  oxen.  I  suppose  they 
"  were  the  first  Dakotas  who  ever  held  a  plow.  The  dogs  or 
"  Indians  stole  my  provisions  the  first  night  I  was  theie,  and 
"  I  did  not  fare  sumi)tiiously  every  day,  for  food  was  scarce 
"and  not  very  palateable." 


56  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Eieturniiig  to  Fort  Snelling,  and  encouraged  by  Major 
Bliss,  tlien  in  command,  and  Indian  agent  Talliaferro,  the 
brothers  k^cated  at  Lake  Calhonn,  where  they  plowed  for  the 
Indians  and  erected  a  log  house,  meanwhile  occupying  a  tem- 
porary shelter  in  the  woods,  where  they  were  surrounded 
by  a  cloud  of  mosquitoes.  Mr.  S.  AA'.  Pond  says  :  "From  the 
"  time  of  our  arrival  we  considered  the  acquisition  of  the 
"  Dakota  language  of  paramount  importance.  We  were  ever 
"  on  the  alert  to  catch  some  new  word  or  phrase  from  the 
"  mouths  of  the  Indians.  We  contrived  the  alj^habet  the 
"  first  summer  we  were  here,  and  our  house  was  completed 
"  and  the  language  reduced  to  writing  about  the  same  time  ; 
"  but  the  hoiise  was  to  stand  but  five  years,  while  the  alpha- 
"  bet  will  be  used  so  long  as  the  Dakota  language  is  written. 
"We  had  not  been  in  our  new  home  long  before  a  young  man 
"inquired  whether  Dakotas  could  learn  to  read,  and exj^ressed 
"  a  desire  to  learn.  We  taught  him  the  letters,  and  how  to 
"use  them  in  the  formation  of  words,  and  he  learned  in  a  few 
"  weeks  to  write  letters  that  we  could  understand,  and  was, 
"doubtless,  the  first   Dakota  who  learned  to  read  and  write." 

The  brothers  learned  the  grammatical  structure  of  the  lan- 
guage as  children  learn  their  mother  tongue.  >  Interpreters 
could  not  help  them.  One  of  the  latter  when  asked  about  the 
verb  replied,  "  If  you  can  find  a  verb  in  Dakota  you  are  a 
smart  man !"  Another  when  questioned  as  to  how  the 
Dakotas  formed  the  future  tense  said,  "  The  Dakotas  have  no 
future  tense  !"  The  future  tense,  and  many  rules  of  gram- 
mar, were  learned  without  their  helj^.  "It  is  one  thing  to 
learn  a  word  or  rule  in  print  or  in  writing,  and  quite  another 
thing  to  catch  it  from  the  mouth  of  an  Indian." 

Mr.  Pond  hunted  with  the  Indians  a  month,  but  the  lan- 
guage was  the  game  he  was  hunting  for,  and  he  "was  as  eager 
in  the  piirsuit  of  that  as  the  Indians  were  of  deer".  Not 
one  of  the  fifty  men  who  accompanied  him  is  alive  to-day. 

Mr.  Pond  says  that  before  the  treaty  with  the  Indians  they 
would  assist  in  plowing,  biit  afterwards  not  one  of  them 
would  touch  a  plow.  Their  seeming  prosperity  was  ruinous. 
When*  the  brothers  came  here  they  found  the  Indians,  .as  a 
general  rule,  "an  industrious,  energetic  peojjle."     Under  the 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   I'KOPLE.  57 

treaty  tho  older  Indians  gradually  lost  their  former  habits  of 
industry,  and  a  new  generation  grew  up  of  insolent,  reckless 
fellows,  who  spent  their  lives  in  idleness  and  dissipation. 
As  they  "  never  regretted  coming  among  the  Dakotas"  when 
they  did,  so  they  "never  regretted  leaving  them"  when  they 
ditL  For  nearly  twenty  years  they  devoted  their  lives  to  the 
Dakotas,  "  and  it  was  not  without  the  greatest  reluctance  and 
a  feeling  of  bitter  disaj)pointment"  that  they  "  came  to  the 
conclusion'"  that  they  "niust  leave  them". 

For  over  half  a  century — nearly  three-score  years — one  of 
those  earliest  missit)naries  has  lived  in  Minnesota,  and  is  yet 
here,  erect  in  stature,  standing  over  six  feet,  and  his  mental 
faculties  are  vigorous.  He  resides  in  alm(5st  the  primitive 
simplicity  of  the  early  days,  from  choice,  in  his  own  house,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Minnesota  river.  His  voice  is  clear, 
his  eyes  are  bright,  and  his  limbs  are  vigorous.  The 
lumber  of  his  house  he  brought  with  oxen,  on  the  ice  of  the 
Mississippi  river,  from  Point  Douglas  to  Fort  Snelling,  at 
which  last-named  jilace  it  was  framed,  and  thence  transported 
by  barge  on  the  Minnesota  river  to  its  i)resent  location.  The 
footsteps  of  time  have  brought  to  this  generation  few  more  in- 
teresting personages  than  Samuel  W.  Pond,  who  is  one  of  the 
first  missionaries  to  the  Dakotas,  who  matle  the  first  collec- 
tion of  words  for  the  Dakota  dictionary,  who  first  taught  a 
Dakota  to  read  and  M-rite,  wrote  the  first  school-lessons  in  their 
language  for  the  Dakota  children,  and  translated  ])ortions  of 
the  Bible  into  Dakota.  He  first  taught  the  Dakotas  to  plow. 
The  alphabet  he  arranged  for  them,  and  his  translations  for 
their  use,  no  college  graduate  is  able  to  improve,  for  there 
is  reliable  testimony  that  the  Indians  understan(l.  them  better 
than  any  others. 

MISSIONARY    STEPHEN    E.    IlIGGS. 

Dr.  Riggs  M-as  not  a  frequent  visitor  at  the  St.  Peter  agency 
during  1849,  but  his  presence  was  always  desired.  At  that 
period,  and  for  many  years  before  and  after,  his  labor  with 
the  Indians  was  at  Lac-qui-parle,  the  home  of  the  classic 
Martin  McLeod.  Dr.  Piggs  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  came 
to  Minnesota  in  1887,  and  from  that  date  to  the  breaking  out 


68  PEKSONAL    EECOLLECTIONS 

of  the  Indian  war,  August  1862,  lie  was  one  of  the  most 
active,  zealous,  and  prominent  missionaries  in  the  country. 
He  was  not  only  active  in  the  field  but,  with  the  aid  of  S.  W. 
and  G.  H.  Pond  and  Dr.  Williamson,  rendered  to  the  Dakotas 
services  which  were  indispensable  in  editing,  compiling,  com- 
posing, and  publishing  books  in  their  language  which  were 
the  foundation  of  success  in  the  propagation  of  the  gospel 
among  them,  and  the  key  to  their  civilization  and  Christiani- 
zation.  He  was  respected  by  the  Indians,  and  there  is  no 
doubt  but  that  he  accomplished  a  good  work  in  their  behalf  ; 
though  for  that  matter  all  the  missionaries  did — but  the  mass 
of  the  Dakotas  would  never  acknowledge  it. 

Dr.  Riggs'  miseion  was  made  less  difficult  in  the  beginning 
in  consequence  of  the  primitive  missionaries — the  two  Ponds 
and  Dr.  Williamson — having  prepared  the  way  for  him  and 
those  who  followed  in  the  missionary  field.  He  wielded  an 
able,  useful,  instructive,  classic  pen.  His  taste  was  literary. 
He  was  a  prolific  pirblisher.  His  wife  was  an  able  woman — 
perhaps  not  more  so  than  the  wives  of  the  other  missionaries — 
but  her  advantages  for  an  education  in  early  life,  in  her  New 
England  home,  had  been  of  a  sujjerior  character.  A  large 
family  of  interesting  children  gathered  around  the  hearth- 
stone of  the  mission  house,  some  of  whom,  since  reaching 
maturity,  have  followed  the  holy  calling  of  their  parents,  and 
are  now  missionaries  in  different  parts  of  the  world. 

When  we  consider  the  privations,  hardships,  difficulties, 
and  sufferings  encountered  and  surmounted,  by  these  primi- 
tive men  and  their  families,  in  their  earnest  labors  for  the 
thankless  Sioux,  we  are  led  to  conclude  that  had  those  things 
occurred  in  Africa,  or  Asia,  their  deeds  would  have  been 
sounded  throughout  the  republic.  But  as  their  work  was  on 
American  soil  it  escajjed  the  attention  of  the  people  and  was 
considered  a  local  matter  of  little  moment.  It  is  curious  to 
peruse  the  record  of  the  great  privations  and  sufferings  of 
those  early  missionaries — from  cold,  and  hunger,  and  well- 
grounded  fear  of  the  Indians  —  intersjjersed  with  rejoic- 
ings "at  the  manifestations  of  the  Lord's  loving  kindness 
and  teiider  mercies  undiminished"  towards  them !  Dur- 
ing the  whole   of   Dr.  Eiggs'  life,  after  reaching  the  mission 


or   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   TEOPLE.  59 

fields  of  Minnesota,  his   great  interest    in    his   work   never 
ceased. 

REV.    A.    RAVOUX. 

Another  welcome  visitor  to  the  agency  during  1S49  was  the 
Rev.  Angnstin  Kavoux,  so  long  the  vicar-general  of  St.  Paul. 
Mr.  Ravoux  reached  the  upper  coimtry  in  ISil.  He  is  a 
native  of  France,  came  to  this  country  in  1838,  and  was  for 
some  time  engaged  in  missionary  work  at  Prairie  du  Cliien. 
After  his  arrival  in  this  territory  lu>  visited  Traverse  des 
Sioux,  and  commenced  the  study  of  the  Indian  language,  in 
which  he  soon  became  proficient.  Meantime  he  jjreached  to 
the  savages  by  interpreters.  His  labor  was  not  confined  to 
Traverse,  but  he  \asited  La  Framboise's  trading  post  at 
Little  Rock,  and  eventually  i)roceeded  up  the  St.  Peter  river 
as  far  as  Lac-qui-parle,  the  seat  of  the  Protestant  mission 
under  Dr.  Williamson  and  Dr.  Riggs.  From  Traverse  he 
returned  to  Mendota  and  taught  the  catechism  in  the  Indian 
language  to  some  of  the  half-breed  families.  He  established 
a  mission  at  Little  Prairie,  now  Chaska.  AVhile  at  the  latter 
place  he  wrote  several  religious  books  in  the  Dakota  language. 
In  184:3  appeared  a  volume  entitled  A^^akantanka  ti  Cancu, 
( Path  to  the  House  of  God, )  of  which  he  was  the  author. 

Mr.  Ravoiix  made  many  converts  to  Christianity  among  the 
wild  Indians.  No  man  was  held  in  higher  respect  by  the 
the  whole  community.  A  devoted  and  faithful  pastor,  a  kind 
friend  to  the  poor,  he  was  always  engaged  in  some  act  of 
philanthropy.  He  ministered  to  those  of  all  denominations 
and  all  classes  alike  by  deeds  of  kindness.  The  private  soldiers 
in  the  garrison  received  the  same  kind  attention  that  was 
given  to  the  officers  in  their  quarters.  The  improvident 
half-breeds — and  there  were  many  of  them  in  those  days — who 
rarely  looked  out  for  the  morrow,  were  frequently  relieved 
from  distress  by  his  generous  efforts.  He  has  lived  an  event- 
ful and  useful  life.  Most  of  those  with  whom  he  was  so 
intimately  associated  forty  years  ago  have  i)assed  away,  but 
the  seed  sown  by  him  in  those  early  days  has  brought  forth 
noble  fruit.  There  is  not  an  old  settler  in  the  land  but  has  a 
fond  recollection  of  this  excellent  missionary. 

REV.    DR.    THOMAS   WILLIAMSON. 

Dr.  Williamson  was  consulted  more  than  anv  other  man  bv 


60  PEESONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

the  Indian  agency  in  1849,  if  we  except  the  Ponds.  He  was 
born  in  South  Caf  olina,  in  1800.  Five  years  later  his  parents 
moved  to  Ohio,  and  when  seventeen  years  old  young  William- 
son graduated  at  Jefferson  college,  Pennsylvania.  In  1827 
he  married  Miss  Mary  Poage,  and  came  to  Minnesota  on  a 
tour  of  observation  in  1834,  and  with  his  family  in  May  1835. 
Besides  his  wife  and  infant  daughter,  he  was  accomi^anied  by 
his  wife's  sister.  Miss  Mary  Poage,  afterwards  Mrs.  G.  H. 
Pond,  and  by  Mr.  Alexander  G.  Huggins  and  family.  Soon 
afterward  they  proceeded  to  Lac-qui-parle.  In  this  company 
were  the  first  white  women  who  ever  ascended  the  Minnesota. 

Having  labored  eleven  years  at  Lac-qui-parle  and  built  up 
a  church  of  forty  members,  he  left  the  station  in  charge  of 
Dr.  Piggs  and  removed  to  Kaposia,  five  miles  below  St.  Paul, 
where  he  remained  six  years,  when  he  removed  to  Yellow 
Medicine.  The  outbreak  of  1862  scattered  the  churches,  but 
Dr.  Williamson  had  the  consolation  of  knowing  that  all  the 
Christian  Indians  continued,  at  the  risk  of  their  own  lives, 
steadfast  friends  of  the  whites,  and  that  they  succeeded  in 
saving  more  thnn  their  own  number  of  white  people. 

Dr.  Williamson  had  not  one  enemy,  and  those  who  differed 
with  him  in  his  estimate  of  the  Indian  character  respected 
him  for  his  integrity.  His  belief  that  no  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  churches  had  taken  part  in  the  massacre,  though 
contrary  to  general  opinion,  is  confirmed  by  the  most  thor- 
ough investigation. 

Dr.  Williamson  died  at  his  residence,  in  St.  Peter,  Minne- 
sota, June  24,  1877,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  life.  He 
labored  for  twenty-seven  years  among  the  Dakotas,  and  for 
thirty-six  years  was  a  missionary  of  the  American  Board. 

The  above-named  are  all  the  missionaries  I  met  at  the  St. 
Peter  agency  in  1849,  except  Rev.  M.  N.  Adams,  who  was 
stationed  at  Lac-qui-j^arle.  He  is  now  at  the  Sisseton 
agency  in  Dakota.  We  shall  take  occasion  to  speak  of  his 
good  work,  at  a  later  period. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

WILD   FOOD    IN    MINNESOTA. 

When  Philandoi-  Proscott  came  to  the  upper  country,  in 
1819,  the  natives  depended  much  on  the  wihl  i)ro(U;ct  of  the 
country  for  food  ;  and  to  some  extent  it  was  used  when  I 
arrived  in  Minnesota  in  1819.  In  most  instances  it  was  easily 
gathered,  and  I  f(nind,  while  among  the  Indians  in  an  early 
day,  that  even  a  white  man  would  soon  become  fond  of  the 
wild  sweet-potato  and  one  or  two  other  varieties  of  the  wild 
tubers  the  st^uaws  served  uj)  to  us  in  their  tepees. 

According  to  Mr.  Prescott  the  most  prominent  varieties  of 
wild  product  used  by  the  Indians  were  the  mendo  or  wild 
sweet-potato,  tip-sui-ah  or  wild  prairio-turnij),  ])ang-he  or 
artichoke,  omen-e-chah  or  wild  bean,  i)sui-cliin-cliah  or  swamp 
potato,  pesich-ah  toM-alia])a  or  wild  rice. 

The  wild  sweet  potato  is  found  throughout  the  valleys  of 
the  Mississippi,  Minnesota,  and  other  streams  in  the  central 
part  of  Minnesota.  It  gro'w^  about  the  bases  £>i  bhififs,  in 
rather  moist,  soft,  rich  ground.  The  i>lant  reseml)les  the 
sweet-potato,  and  the  root  is  similar  in  growth  and  tast(\  In 
a  letter  to  Hon.  Thomas  Ewbank,  dated  November  10,  1849, 
Mr.  Prescott  says,  "It  does  not  grow  so  large  n(U'  so  haig  as 
the  cultivated  swtH^t-potato,  but  I  should  ha\e  thought  it  the 
same  were  it  not  that  the  wild  potato  is  not  affected  by  the 
frost."  The  Indians  simply  boiled  them  in  water  when  yve- 
paring  them  for  the  table.  I  intended  to  have  made  experi- 
ments in  the  cultivation  of  the  mendo,  believing  it  would 
bear  cultivation,  and  perhaps  when  perfected  a  new  variety  of 


62  PEKSONAL    KECOLLECTIONS 

sweet-potato  of  great  value  would  be  added  to  our  products. 
I  regret  my  negligence  in  tliis  matter. 

Tlie  wild  prairie-turnip  grows  on  the  liigli  native  prairies, 
in  size  from  a  small  lien's  egg  to  that  of  a  goose  egg,  and  of 
the  same  form.  They  have  a  thick  black  or  brown  bark,  but 
are  nearly  pure  white  inside,  with  very  little  moisture.  They 
grow  about  six  or  eight  int^hes  below  the  surface,  and  the 
Indian  women  would  dig  them  with  a  sharp-pointed  stick 
forced  into  the  ground  and  used  as  a  lever.  They  were  boiled 
by  the  Indians  and  used  in  the  same  manner  as  we  use  our 
turnips.  They  were  frequently  split  open  and  dried  for 
winter  use  by  the  squaws.  When  dried  they  resembled  chalk. 
Mr.  Prescott  thought  that  when  thus  dried  they  could  be 
ground  into  flour,  and  that  they  would  make  very  palatable 
bread. 

The  artichoke  grows  where  the  land  is  rich,  near  fallen  or 
decayed  timber.  It  M^as  only  used  for  food  when  the  Indians 
were  very  hungry.  The  wild  bean  was  found  in  all  parts  of 
the  valleys  where  the  land  was  moist  and  rich.  In  regard  to 
this  plant  Mr.  Prescott  says  :  *'  It  is  of  the  size  of  a  large 
bean,  with  a  rich  and  very  pleasant  flavor.  When  used  in  a 
stew  I  have  thought  them  superior  to  any  garden  vegetable 
that  I  have  ever  tasted."  The  Indians  are  very  fond  of  them, 
and  pigeons  -get  fat  on  them  in  the  spring.  The  plant  is  a 
slender  vine,  from  two  to  four  feet  in  hight,  with  small  pods 
two  to  three  inches  long,  containing  from  three  to  five  beans. 
The  pod  dries  and  opens,  the  beans  fall  to  the  ground,  and  in 
the  spring  take  root  and  grow  again.  There  is  no  question, 
in  my  ojjinion,  but  what  this  plant  could  l)e  successfully 
cultiA'ated. 

The  swamp-potato  was  found— and  I  suppose  it  is  so  to  this 
day — in  water  and  mud  about  three  feet  deep.  The  leaf  is  as 
large  as  the  cabbage  leaf.  The  stem  has  but  one  leaf,  which 
has,  as  it  were,  two  horns  or  points.  The  root  is  obtained  by 
the  Indian  women  ;  they  wade  in  the  water  and  gather  the 
roots.  It  is  of  oblong  shape,  of  a  whitish  yellow,  with  a  few 
black  rings  around  it,  is  of  a  slightly  i)ungent  taste,  and  not 
disagreeable  wdien  eaten  with  salt  or  meat. 

The  y)sui-chah  I  believe  to  be  of  the  same  family  as  the 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.       •  63 

last,  hut  the  tuber  is  not  so  lar^e.  The  stem  and  leaf  are 
similar,  Imt  it  grows  in  deeper  water.  Tlu;  Indians  are  very 
fond  of  it.  Both  of  these  tubers  are  found  in  large  quantities 
in  the  musk  rat  lodges,  stored  by  them  for  winter  use.  It  is 
not  saying  too  much  to  call  them  a  luxury. 

The  ta-wah-i)ah  is  another  tuber,  or  rather  a  root,  that  the 
Indians  esteem  highly  as  food.  Like  the  two  preceding,  it  is 
a  water  product.  The  stem,  leaf,  and  a  yellow  flower,  are  like 
the  jjond  lily.  It  is  found  in  the  lakes,  in  water  and  mud 
from  four  to  five  feet  deep.  The  Indian  women  used  to 
gather  it  in  large  (quantities.  The  root  is  from  one  to  two 
feet  in  length,  and  is  very  i)orous,  having  as  many  as  six  or 
eight  cells  running  the  whole  length  of  the  root.  It  is  slightly 
sweet  and  glutinous.  The  Indians  generally  boiled  it  with 
wild  fowl,  but  often  roasted  it  in  the  absence  of  wild  game. 
All  these  roots  were  preser\'ed  by  the  Indians  for  winter  use 
by  boiling  them  and  then  drying  them  over  the  fire  or  in  the 
sun. 

The  greatest  product  of  all  was  the  wild  rice,  at  least  as  an 
article  of  food,  which  the  Indians  themselves  gathered  instead 
of  the  women.  They  used  it  in  all  their  great  feasts.  It  was 
found — and  I  suppose  it  is  to  this  day — in  lakes  and  streams 
where  the  water  and  mud  is  from  three  to  four  feet  deep  up 
to  ten  or  fifteen.  The  rice  harvest  was  a  short  one,  being  of 
only  a  week's  duration.  When  ripe  the  slightest  touch  shakes 
it  off.  A  strong  wind  scatters  it  in  the  water.  The  Indians 
obtained  it  by  paddling  a  canoe  among  the  rice  when,  with  a 
hooked  stick,  they  drew  the  stalks  over  the  canoe  and  whipped 
off  the  grains.  They  continued  to  push  the  canoe  on  and 
whipi)ed  off  the  rice  until  the  canoe  was  full,  then  carried  the 
cargo  to  the  shore,  unloaded,  and  filled  again  until  the  season 
was  ended.  The  rice  is  dried  on  a  scaffold  covered  with  reed- 
grass,  under  which  a  slow  fire  is  kept  burning.  It  is  of  a 
dark  color,  and  many  of  the  pioneers  prefer  it  to  the  Carolina 
rice.     I  never  did. 

I  do  not  give  the  botanical  names  of  these  products,  prefer- 
ing  to  let  them  remain  in  their  own  native  Dakota,  just  as 
Mr.  Prescott  left  them  so  many  years  ago. 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 

TRAVEL   AND  AMUSEMENT  IN  THE   FALL  AND  WINTER  OF  '49-'50. 

The  winter  of  1850  was  a  quiet  one  at  Fort  Snelling,  as  well 
as  tlirougliout  the  whole  northwest.  December  set  in  cold, 
and  deep  snow  fell  in  all  portions  of  the  territory.  Early  in 
the  winter  news  came  that  good  Major  Murphy  had  been 
removed  from  the  Sioux  agency  and  Major  N.  McLean,  a 
brother  of  Hon.  John  McLean  a  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States,  had  been  appointed  in  his  stead.  Major 
McLean  was  an  editor,  which  profession  he  had  followed  since 
his  advent  into  the  territory.  At  that  time  it  was  no  small 
undertaking  to  pack  up  and  make  a  journey  of  several  hun- 
dred miles  in  mid-winter  on  sledges  (as  this  dismissal  com- 
pelled Major  Murphy  to  do)  to  Galena,  the  nearest  available 
point  of  easy  transit  to  other  parts  of  the  world  ;  and  even 
then  only  Frink  &  Walker's  or  John  D.  Winter's  stages  were 
the  vehicles  of  travel  ;  which  were  not  so  bad  in  the  winter, 
but  in  summer  sometimes  passengers  had  to  bear  squatter 
rails  on  their  shoulders  so  that  sloughs  could  be  successfully 
traversed. 

The  winter  months  were  greatly  enjoyed  by  the  primitive 
people,  and  were  something  of  a  novelty  to  the  new-comers. 
As  a  large  number  of  them  were  of  Canadian-French  origin 
they  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  their  ancestors  and  observed 
the  beginning  of  winter  by  a  continued  series  of  dancing- 
parties,  in  which  they  were  joined  by  those  representing  all 
nationalities,  and  by  none  with  more  zest  than  by  those  of 
mixed  blood.  Many  of  the  latter,  it  was  said  at  the  time, 
were  beautiful  dancers  ;  and  they  were  certainly  fond  of  that 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  65 

amusement.     The  winters  in  the  early  days  were  seasons  of 
mirth. 

A    VISIT    TO   THE    TRADING    POSTS. 

With  Samuel  J.  Findley  I  started  in  January  on  a  jouniey 
from  Fort  Snelling  by  way  of  the  St.  Croix  Falls  to  the  Lake 
Superior  region.  The  object  was  to  visit  the  distant  trading 
posts  where  Mr.  Steele  was  interested  in  purc-hasing  fur. 
Mr.  Findley  could  si)eak  the  French  and  Indian  languages 
fluently,  and  from  his  long  residence  in  the  north  (he  was  a 
native  of  Prairie  du  Chien )  was  familiar  with  the  country 
and  could  follow  a  trail  or  make  his  way  through  the  deep 
forests  and  reach  any  point  in  the  woods  with  as  much  cer- 
tainty as  an  Indian,  ^^'ith  j^lenty  of  blankets,  buifalo-robes 
and  provisions,  we  started  out  in  the  midst  of  a  snow-storm, 
with  a  double  train,  by  way  of  St.  Paul  and  Stillwater,  for  the 
upper  country.  After  a  hard  battle  all  day  with  the  snow- 
drifts, we  only  reached  the -half-way  house  between  St.  Paul 
and  Stillwater.  This  house  had  for  a  landlord  John  Morgan, 
an  old  settler,  a  warm-hearted,  hospitable  man,  who  made  us 
comfortable  after  the  tedious  day's  journey.  The  next  morn- 
ing dawned  with  increased  violence  to  the  storm.  It  was 
terrific,  but  during  a  lull  in  the  early  forenoon  we  started  out 
and  made  the  seven  miles  to  Stillwater  just  as  darkness 
approached.  We  ^ut  up  at  the  Stillwater  House,  a  small  but 
convenient  place  of  entertainment.  At  that  time  Stillwater 
had  not  much  need  of  a  hotel,  though  during  the  active  move- 
ment of  lumber  the  embryo  city  was  lively.  Then  old  settlers 
had  (as  they  have  now)  a  gi'eat  liking  for  the  place. 

PIONEERS    OF    STILLWATER. 

Stillwater  was  the  first  home  of  many  of  the  pioneers.  The 
first  courts  were  held  there.  Calvin  F.  Leach,  Elias  McKean, 
Joseph  R.  Brown,  Governor  William  Holcombe,  John  Mc-- 
Kusick,  Socrates  Nelson,  Samuel  Berkleo,  David  B.  Loomis, 
M.  S.  Wilkinson,  Sylvanus  Trask,  John  D.  Ludden,  Henry 
F,  Setzer,  Jesse  Taylor,  Elam  Greeley,  Albei-t  Stimsou,  Wm. 
Willim,  the  Mower  brothers,  and  many  other  good  and  true 
men  and  patriots,  located  there.  But  our  Fathers  !  Where 
are  they  !     May  the  people  of  that  flourishing  city,  for  all 


QQ  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

time  to  come,  walk  the  same  road  traveled.  l)y  these  men.  It 
will  lead  them  to  the  meadow-lands  whose  dews  are  the  sweet 
balsams  of  eternity  ! 

The  storm  still  raged.  In  these  times  it  would  be 
known  as  a  blizzard.  This  being  my  first  introduction  to  a 
storm  of  this  character  I  was  inclined  to  think  that  farmers 
in  this  climate  could  never  do  any  out-door  work  in  the 
winter,  and  that  the  stock  would  all  freeze.  I  found  these 
opinions  erroneous.  Mr.  Steele  and  I  had  a  great  many  men 
at  work  for  us  during  the  winter,  and  but  few  days  were  lost 
from  inclemency  of  the  weather  ;  and  in  after  years  I  win- 
tered hundreds  head  of  stock  and  never  lost  one  through  the 
influence  of  the  storm. 

Of  course  there  was  no  visible  track  up  the  river  from  Still- 
water to  St.  Croix  Falls,  and  we  had  to  pick  our  way  up  the 
frozen  stream  the  best  we  could.  Under  the  most  favorable 
conditions  there  is  not  much  pleasure  or  romance  in  traveling 
on  sledges  in  winter  in  Minnesota,  and  less  when  the  air  is 
full  of  such  fine  particles  of  snow  that  when  driven  by  a 
strong  wind  the  sting  is  about  equal  to  being  pelted  with 
nettles. 

I  had  about  made  up  my  mind  that  I  had  enough  of  the 
life  of  a  voyageur,  when  just  as  night  had  set  in  we  discov- 
ered in  the  twilight  a  building  near  by,  fvdiich  proved  to  be 
Orange  Walker's  mill  at  Marine,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  St. 
Croix.  After  considerable  difficulty  we  found  the  road  lead- 
ing up  the  bluff,  and  were  soon  resting  comfortably  in  a  fine 
hotel,  for  those  times.  We  had  passed  the  Areola  mills  of 
the  Mower  boys,  some  miles  down  the  river,  in  the  snow- 
storm without  knowing  it. 

LUMBER    BUSINESS   ON   THE   ST.    CROIX. 

The  Marine  colony,  an  ancient  settlement,  was  at  first  com- 
posed mostly  of  people  from  Marine,  Illinois.  The  principal 
business  firm  is  known  as  Judd,  Walker  &  Co.  This  house 
emi)loys  a  great  many  men  in  the  lumber  trade.  The  men  are 
sent  into  the  pineries  bordering  on  the  St.  Croix  and  its 
tributaries.  They  cut  the  logs  during  the  winter,  bank  them 
on  the  streams,  and  in  spring  they  are  floated  down  the  river, 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  G7 

gathered  into  a  boom  at  Marine,  sawed  into  lum];«'r,  and 
rafted  down  the  St.  Croix  and  Mississippi  rivers  to  St.  Louis 
and  other  markets. 

The  next  day  was  c-h>ar  ;  not  a  vestige  of  the  storm  was 
left,  except  the  huge  snow-drifts.  Off  early  in  the  morning, 
we  ])assed  Osceola,  a  lumber  precinct,  and  reached  the  east 
banks  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Croix,  now  called  Taylor's  Falls,  and 
gathered  up  some  furs,  and  were  invited  by  a  trader  named 
Samuels  to  attend  a  gathering  in  his  bowling-alley  that  even- 
ing at  early  candle-light. 

FRONTIER   DANCING-PARTY. 

We  responded  at  the  jjroper  time,  and  found  many  Indian 
maidens  dressed  in  blue  calico  gowns,  and  several  whites  and 
half-breeds,  enjoying  a  dance.  Everything  was  orderly,  and 
conducted  with  as  much  propriety  as  such  occasions  are  in 
the  old-settled  portions  of  the  east.  Samuels,  whose  wife 
was  a  full-blooded  squaw,  managed  to  secure  the  attendance 
of  the  Chippewa  maidens  who  were  camped  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  falls.  The  men  who  were  employed  in  the 
lumber  camps,  mostly  from  the  east,  seemed  to  require  some 
form  of  amusement,  and  Samuels  got  up  this  novel  method 
of  supplying  it. 

The  young  Chippewa  girls  were  well-behaved,  modest  and 
diffident,  but  like  many  of  their  white  sisters,  enjoyed  dancing. 
Everything  was  conducted  on  the  strictest  line  of  temjjerance, 
the  men  treating  the  maidens  respectfully.  At  midnight  a 
fine  supper  was  served,  after  which  the  dancing  was  continued 
until  daylight,  when  the  men  quietly  retired  to  their  boarding- 
places,  and  the  girls  donned  their  blankets  and  went  to  their 
wigwams.  They  were  accompanied  to  the  ball  by  some  male 
or  female  relative.  Samuels  said  that  at  first  the  red  male 
admirers  of  the  girls  rather  objected  to  their  attendance,  as 
did  their  parents  in  some  instances,  but  as  a  general  rule 
the  objectors  were  present  at  the  supper,  and  being  the 
recipients  of  a  bountiful  supply  of  delicacies,  free,  their 
objections  were  waived.  All  communication  between  the 
couples  on  the  floor,  or  at  the  banquet-table,  was  through  an 
interpreter,  as  the  girls  could  not  speak  English  nor  the  boys 
Chippewa. 


68  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Many  beautiful  cottages  liad  been  built,  even  at  this  early 
day,  around  that  portion  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Croix  in  Wisconsin, 
while  the  Minnesota  side  exhibited  much  enterprise,  Hon. 
W.  H.  C  Folsom  was  a  resident  of  the  little  hamlet.  He  had 
in  1846,  with  Martin  Mower  and  Joseph  Brewster,  been 
interested  in  building  a  saw-mill  at  Areola. 

AN   EXILE   FRONTIERSMAN. 

After  a  day  or  two  at  the  falls  we  started  northward,  and  for 
the  first  few  miles  found  an  excellent  road,  made  by  the  teams 
of  those  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade.  On  a  branch  of  one  of 
the  numerous  streams — the  Sunrise — was  an  aged  man  named 
Thomas  Connor,  who  had  a  squaw  for  a  wife.  He  had  a  few 
goods  for  sale  to  the  Indians,  and  entertained  the  voyageurs 
and  trappers  and  the  few  wanderers  who  traversed  the  wild 
country.  He  had  long  been  a  resident  in  the  wilderness, 
seldom  visiting  civilization.  A  man  of  good  habits  and  good 
education,  above  the  average  in  point  of  ability,  it  seemed 
strange  he  should  lead  such  a  life.  No  one  was  acquainted 
with  his  previous  history,  further  than  that  he  had  resided  in 
the  vicinity  for  long  years,  nor  could  any  one  understand  why 
he  elected  to  become  an  exile  in  the  upper  valley  of  the  St. 
Croix.  On  expressing  surprise  to  a  missionary  that  a  man  of 
such  intelligence  should  bury  himself  in  such  a  manner,  he 
replied,  "  Oh,  the  woods  and  the  country  bordering  on  Lake 
Superior  are  full  of  just  such  men."  In  some  instances  they 
had  been  unfortunate  in  business  in  the  east.  Some  had  lost 
their  good  name  and  fled  into  the  extreme  western  forest  to 
brood  over  their  sorrow.  Others  had  committed  a  crime  and 
had  sought  the  isolated  places  for  safety.  Few  had  sought 
the  lonesome  wilds  from  love  of  it.  They  can  scarcely  be 
called  hermits,  becaiise  they  are  prone  to  associate  with  the 
Indians.  Many  of  them  had  squaws  for  wives,  who  generally 
cultivated  a  little  garden,  while  in  nearly  every  instance  the 
men  traded  more  or  less  with  the  Indians.  It  is  true  their 
outfits  were  small,  but  they  were  well-selected  ;  and  in  those 
days  it  did  not  require  a  great  stock  of  vermillion,  ochre,  and 
other  kinds  of  paint,  glass-beads,  red  and  blue  calico,  with  a 
few  Mackinaw  blankets,  powder,  lead,  shot,  tobacco  and  a  gun 


OP  MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  69 

or  two,  to  make  a  respectable  stock  of  goods  for  a  kind  of 
guerrilla  traffic  with  the  Indians.  In  order  to  be  a  regular 
trader  in  the  Indian  country  a  license  from  the  Indian  author- 
ities was  necessary,  but  frequently  men  with  Indian  wives  did 
not  observe  the  existing  laws.  Mr.  Connor  was  a  favorite 
with  the  lumbermen  on  the  streams  north  of  his  locality, 
because  he  always  had  good  fires  to  camji  by  in  the  winter, 
and  set  an  excellent  table,  and  could  entertain  his  guests  with 
interesting  reminiscences  of  his  sojourn  in  the  valley  of  the 
St.  Croix.  He  passed  away  many  years  ago,  as  have  all  his 
contemporaries  who  followed  the  same  mode  of  life. 

A   PHENOMENAL   WINTER. 

From  Mr.  Connor's  place  we  followed  the  trail  to  Elam 
Greeley's  logging  camp  at  Snake  river,  which  was  not  far 
from  the  present  site  of  Pine  City.  Mr.  Greeley  was  one 
of  the  primitive  lumbermen  on  the  St.  Croix.  He  informed 
me  that  two  or  three  winters  previously,  in  company  with  a 
Mr.  Blake,  from  Winnebago  county,  Illinois,  and  another 
person,  he  was  engaged  in  logging  on  the  Sunrise.  They  never 
banked  a  log  on  the  river  during  the  whole  winter  in  conse- 
quence of  the  total  absence  of  snow  !  He  had  kept  his  crew 
in  the  woods,  hoping  against  hope,  all  ready  for  work  when 
the  snow  should  come,  but  it  did  not  come  at  any  one  time 
during  the  whole  winter  sufficient  to  whiten  the  ground, 
and  as  a  consequence  the  firm  had  large  outgoes  with  no 
income.  This  was  probably  the  only  winter  of  the  kind 
known  in  Minnesota. 

From  Mr.  Greeley's  camp  we  made  our  way  to  the  small 
trading-post  of  Louis  Jarvis,  a  French  Canadian,  whose  place 
of  business  was  on  the  banks  of  Pokegema  Lake.  From  him 
we  secured  a  superior  lot  of  furs,  principally  marten.  Mr. 
Jarvis  was  married  to  an  intelligent  half-breed  girl.  In  ear- 
lier years  a  voyageur,  he  had  saved  some  money  while  follow- 
ing that  hard  life,  which  he  invested  in  the  Indian  trade, 
married  the  pretty  Nancy  Laprairie,  and  settled  near  the 
mission  grounds  on  the  beautiful  lake,  and  made  an  uncertain 
livelihood  in  selling  paint  and  beads  to  the  Indians.  Poor 
Jarvis  !     The  hardships  he  endured  on  j)lains,  in  the  forest, 


70  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

and  swinging  the  oars  in  the  rivers  and  lakes,  during  his 
engagement  with  the  fur  company,  destroyed  his  health,  and 
he  lived  only  a  few  months  after  going  into  business  for 
himself. 

THE   OLD    INDIAN   MISSION   GllOUNDS. 

At  the  time  of  my  visit  to  the  lake  the  old  mission  had 
been  removed  to  other  parts  of  the  wilderness.  The  labor  of 
the  missionaries  in  the  neighborhood  was  closed,  but  their 
good  deeds  followed  them,  though  many  of  the  Indians  once 
so  numerous  around  the  lake  had,  in  consequence  of  the 
incessant  hostility  of  the  Dakotas,  abandoned  the  scenes  of 
their  early  home  and  gone  to  reside  with  their  kith  and  kin 
northward  almost  to  the  shore  of  Lake  Superior.  There 
were  many  brave  warriors  in  the  band,  but  they  were  liable 
to  be  caught  by  Dakotas  in  ambush,  and  worsted  in  battle. 
A  few  half-breeds  remained,  mostly  of  the  Laprairie  family 
blood,  who  delighted  in  war  ;  but  the  few  full-bloods  who 
remained  adopted  the  habits  of  the  whites  and  tilled  the  soil 
to  a  considerable  extent.  It  is  seldom,  however,  that  an 
Indian  is  either  a  good  economist  or  a  good  farmer,  though 
there  are  exceptions,  but  not  many. 

SNOW-SHOES. 

In  visiting  these  small  trading-posts  and  hunters'  camps  I 
found  that  snow-shoes  were  necessary  when  outside  the  paths 
made  by  lumbermen.  To  a  novice  they  are  unpleasant  and 
uncomfortable,  and  to  get  on  one's  feet  in  the  deep  snow, 
after  being  tripped  up  by  a  misstep,  is  no  slight  task.  After 
one  has  sers^ed  an  apprenticeship  in  wearing  them  he  can 
travel  with  ease  and  speed.  I  am  not  sure  but  a  man  well- 
versed  in  the  mysteries  of  traveling  over  the  snow  with  snow- 
shoes  can  make  as  many  miles  per  day  on  them  as  he  can 
without  them  and  with  boots  on  a  hard-beaten  path.  Espe- 
cially is  this  so  when  there  is  a  slight  crust  on  the  surface  of 
the  snow.  There  is  considerable  romance  in  wearing  snow- 
shoes  so  long  as  the  straps  which  are  wound  around  the  feet 
and  attached  to  the  snow-shoes  do  not  gall  the  feet. 

We  spent  a  profitable  month  among  the  Indians,  trad- 
ers, and  lumbermen,  in  the  upper  St.  Croix  valley  and  along 


OF  MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  71 

the  tributary  streams.  We  there  renewed  our  acquaintance 
with  Hon.  N.  Setzer,  who  was  connected  with  Mr.  Greeley  in 
himber  operations  on  Snake  river.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
first  territorial  Legislature.  The  lumber  operations  were 
crude  in  those  early  days  in  the  pineries  of  Minnesota  and 
Wisconsin.  The  absence  of  booms  and  other  necessary 
facilities  to  make  them  profitable  may  be  set  down  as  the 
reason  that  those  early  lumbennen  made  no  money  in  getting 
out  logs.  This  I  know  to  my  sorrow,  as  a  winter  or  two  after 
my  visit  to  the  St.  Croix  pineries  I  engaged  in  the  enterprise 
on  Hum  river  and  lost  $17,000  in  the  operation  ;  not  but  that 
there  were  huge  piles  of  logs  banked,  and  safely  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi, but  there  came  a  flood  ;  many  of  the  logs  went  over 
the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  and  were  swept  down  the  river,  and 
it  cost  more  to  gather  them  up  and  raft  them  to  southern 
markets  than  they  were  worth.  Had  there  been  good  boom 
privileges  such  disasters  would  not  have  occurred.  There 
was  one  advantage  the  lumbermen  had,  however,  and  that 
was  that  the  timber  was  good,  and  grew  right  on  the  banks  of 
the  river,  so  the  hauls  were  short  and  the  cost  of  banking 
light  to  what  it  is  now.  Then  again  the  stumpage  was  free. 
At  that  (^arly  period  the  jniblic  domain,  and  all  that  was  on  it, 
was  free  plunder. 

All  the  lumber  used  in  the  houses  erected  at  an  early  day 
in  this  part  of  the  northwest,  and  all  that  was  rafted  down  the 
Mississippi,  was  secured  from  the  lands  belonging  to  the 
government,  and  cost  nothing  to  those  who  cut  it.  Early  in 
the  fifties  the  government  claimed,  and  in  some  instances 
secured,  a  stumpage  but  the  amount  was  very  small.  The 
agents  sent  out  from  Washington  to  collect  it  were  unable, 
even  with  the  powerful  aid  of  the  goA-ernment,  to  secure  more 
than  a  mere  pittance.  One  of  the  timber-age.nts  was  a  brother 
of  the  President,  but  Mr.  Fillmore  met  with  no  better  success 
than  the  others. 

THE   RETURN. 

After  gathering  all  our  furs  and  sending  them  to  the  Fort 
by  voyageurs,  we  started  home  throTigh  an  unl)roken  wilder- 
ness past  the  numerous  lakes  in  what  is  now  Chisago  county. 
After  leaving  the  pine  lands  we  came  into  a  tract  of  beautiful 


72  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

hardwood  timber,  mostly  sugar-majjle.  Those  groves  have 
long  since  passed  away  ;  large,  productive  farms  and  happy 
firesides  exist  in  their  place,  mostly  occupied  by  intelligent, 
industrious,  hardy  Norsemen  and  their  descendents  in  Chisago 
county. 

While  at  Taylor's  Falls  I  desired  to  meet  N.  C.  D.  Taylor, 
a  friend  of  my  earliest  boyhood,  although  ten  years  my  senior, 
but  he  was  absent  in  the  pineries.  Mr.  Taylor  was  once  a 
clerk  for  his  uncle  Nathan  Lovejoy,  a  merchant  in  New 
Hampshire,  in  the  vicinity  of  my  early  home.  He  was  a 
resident  of  Alton,  Illinois,  in  1832.  We  lived  in  the  same 
hamlet  at  the  Stake  Diggings  lead-mines  in  Wisconsin. 
When  I  left  for  Mexico,  in  1846,  Mr.  Taylor  came  to  the  St. 
Croix  valley,  and  was  one  of  the  original  preemptors  of  the 
city  of  Taylor's  Falls-.  For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the 
most  active  business  men  in  Minnesota.  In  1854  he  was  a 
member  of  the  territorial  legislature.  In  1856  he  was  also  a 
member,  and  was  elected  speaker  at  that  session.  In  1866 
he  was  elected  treasurer  of  Chisago  county,  and  re-elected 
for  many  years.  He  died  in  1887.  Mr.  Taylor  M-as  a  pure, 
just  man,  in  both  public  and  private  life.  No  taint  ever 
attached  to  his  name.  Among  the  many  pleasant  "sasitors 
under  my  humble  roof  during  many  years  there  never  was  one 
more  welcome  than  Nathan  Chase  Daniel  Taylor.  He  was 
never  married.     No  man  was  more  universally  respected. 

Mr.  Taylor  having  a  large  experience  in  mining,  was  of  the 
opinion  that  some  day  copper  and  other  mines  would  be  dis- 
covered around  the  falls  of  St.  Croix  ;  in  which  oj)inion  all 
miners  of  experience  fully  concur.  The  formation  is  green- 
stone, much  in  appearance  like  the  copper-bearing  rock  of 
Lake  Superior.  This  dark-green  trap-rock  is  very  different 
from  the  formation  around  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony. 


CHAPTEK  XIV. 

EVENTS   IN   THE   WINTER    AND   SPRING   OF   1850. 

The  long  winter  of  1850  became  wearisome  as  the  spring 
months  approached  and  no  steamboats  came.  Communica- 
tion to  the  lower  country  was  on  the  ice,  tliough  early  in  the 
winter  Judge  Wynian  Knowlton,  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  laid  out 
an  air-line  road  from  that  place  to  St.  Paul,  the  distance  being 
only  313  miles  ;  but  people  preferred  the  ice  to  the  new  road. 

Two  promising  schools  were  opened  in  St.  Anthony,  and 
the  library  association  provided  for  intellectual  treats  to  the 
young  colony.  Rev.  Dr.  E.  G.  Gear,  in  a  lecture  early  in 
January,  said  that  on  his  first  visit  to  Anthony  cataract^  nine 
years  before,  there  was  only  one  poor  cabin  there,  and  a  body 
of  Indians  were  engaged  in  spirit  worship.  Out  of  brush  the 
Indians  had  erected  a  large  number  of  booths  several  hundredv 
feet  long,  in  the  center  of  which  was  a  dog  bedaubed  with 
various  colors,  which  was  a  ])rominent  feature  in  the  super- 
stitious exercises. 

Lieutenant  E.  AV.  Johnson,  Hon.  "W.  R.  Marshall,  and  other 
prominent  citizens,  lectured  l)efore  the  association.  A  sewing- 
circle  was  ff)rmed  by  the  ladies,  which  was  a  kind  of  relief  to 
the  home-sickness  which  they  naturally  felt,  to  some  extent, 
the  first  winter  after  their  departure  from  their  former  home. 
Hon.  John  A.  Wakefield  organized  a  temperance  society  in 
St.  Paul,  which  extended  to  St.  Anthony.  The  academy 
building  was  finished  and  a  kind  of  high-school  was  opened 
in  it  during  the  latter  part  of  the  winter. 

Goodhue  of  the  Pioneer  was  inclined  to  poke  fun  at  those 
around   the   falls.     That   paper  of   February  27th  said   that 


74  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

probably  a  town  on  the  west  shore  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony 
would  be  laid  out  and  vigorously  commenced  the  ensuing 
spring.  He  added  :  "  We  propose  that  it  be  called  All  Saints, 
so  as  to  head  off  the  whole  calendar  of  saints."  After  the 
snow  disappeared  in  March,  the  Pioneer  said,  "  We  learn  that 
on  Sunday,  April  3,  a  fire  broke  out  in  St.  Anthony,  in  the 
dry  grass,  and  burnt  over  several  squares  where  buildings 
will  be."  Little  did  Colonel  Goodhue,  or  any  one  at  that 
time,  think  that  in  thirty-five  years  not  only  those  few  squares 
would  be  built  over,  but  that  solid  blocks  would  extend  from 
them  for  miles. 

CHANGE   OF   COMMAND   AT   FORT   SNELLING. 

On  the  27th  of  February  Colonel  Loomis  received  orders 
to  turn  over  the  command  to  Colonel  Woods  and  proceed  to 
Fort  Leavenworth.  The  noble  old  colonel  who  had  done  so 
much  for  the  benefit  of  the  northwest,  and  for  Christianity, 
never  returned  to  Fort  Snelling,  With  his  departure  the 
missionaries  lost  their  best  friend. 

On  April  3d  orders  came  for  Colonel  Woods  to  take  three 
companies  from  Fort  Snelling  and  proceed  to  Iowa  and 
remove  the  Pottawatomies,  Sacs  and  Foxes,  over  the  Missouri 
river.  This  order  ended  Colonel  Wood's  command  and 
presence -at  the  fort. 

Such  was  the  anxiety  for  the  arrival  of  steamboats  that 
little  else  was  talked  about.  On  the  19th  of  April  the  High- 
land Mary,  Captain  John  Atkinson,  landed  at  the  fort.  Many 
citizens  of  St.  Paul,  Stillwater,  and  other  places,  were  that 
night  in  much  the  same  condition  as  were  the  friends  of  Johnny 
when  he  came  marching  home  from  the  war. 

New  life  and  ^dgor  was  imparted  to  the  enterprising  and 
enthusiastic  jjioneers  of  the  upper  Mississippi  by  the  opening 
of  navigation  in  the  spring  of  1850  ;  but  it  must  not  be  sup- 
posed that  the  long  winter  months  were  without  excitement. 

ESQUIMAUX    DISPATCHES    BY    DOG-TRAIN. 

On  the  first  of  March  a  dog  train  arrived  from  the  Red  river 
of  the  North,  containing  news  -of  moment  from  the  Arctic 
ocean.     I  forwarded  this  news  to  the  Pioneer,  and  received 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND   ITS   I'EOPLE.  75 

from  editor  Goodhue  the  following  evidence  of  appreciation  : 
"I  am  greatly  obliged  to  you  for  the  Esquimaux  dispatches, 
"and  hesitated  whether  to  make  an  acknowledgment  for  the 
"  favor,  in  jjrint ;  but  finally  decided  not  to  do  it." 

April  3d  word  was  received  that  fourteeii  Chii)pewas 
were  killed  at  Apple'river  ;  and  the  weekly  mail  frcnn  Prairie 
du  Chien  brought  interesting  accounts  of  the  Parkinson  mur- 
der trial  in  Bostf)n.  All  news,  even  if  it  was  old,  from  the 
great  Morld  outside  of  Minnesota,  was  thoroughly  discussed. 
Newspapers  were  read  and  re-reatL  The  peoi)le  were  well- 
informed  in  regard  to  the  current  events  of  the  day.  One 
could  tell  the  names  of  every  senator  and  representative  in 
congress,  and  the  states  they  represented.  Then  again  the 
health  of  the  people,  according  to  the  population,  was  superior, 
if  possible,  to  that  of  a  later  period.  More  food  was  consumed 
to  the  average  man,  and  enjoyed  with  a  keener  relish,  than 
elsewhere.  Colonel  Goodhue,  on  careful  investigation,  said 
that  it  took  nine  men  to  pole  a  keel-boat  up  the  St.  Croix 
river,  and  on  an  average  they  consumed  a  barrel  of  flour  and 
a  barrel  of  pork  on  the  trip.  He  claimed  that  men  eat  more 
here  than  any  place  in  the  United  states.  Tnie,  the  luxuries 
were  few,  but  the  necessaries  of  life  were  appreciated,  and 
so  long  as  the  wants  of  the  inner  man  were  satisfied  there 
was  no  danger  but  that  the  ingenuity  of  the  people  would 
find  proper  amusement  during  the  long  winter  months. 

A    TRIP    TO    THE    LOWER    COUNTRY. 

On  the  25tli  of  April  the  good  steamer  Nominee,  Captain 
Orrin  Smith  ( whose  name  is  a  household  word  to  the  pioneers 
of  the  upper  valley  of  the  great  river),  appeared  at  Fort 
Snelling  with  recruits  and  government  stores  for  the  arm3\ 
Having  an  important  engagement  at  Eockford,  Illinois,  I  took 
passage  on  the  steamer  for  Galena.  At  St.  Paul  and  other 
landings  several  jjersons  came  aboard  bound  for  the  lower 
country  ;  among  them  was  Simon  Powers,  who  had  quite  a 
cargo  of  live-stock  which  he  was  taking  to  the  lower  markets. 
Among  the  lot  was  an  old  white  mule  which  I  had,  as  agent 
for  Mr.  Steele,  sold  with  other  stock  the  previous  fall.  This 
mule  Mr.  Steele  purchased  from  the  ijuartei-master's  depart- 


76  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

ment  in  1837.  In  1849  he  was  capable  of  doing  a  heavy  day's 
work,  and  no  one  would,  from  his  appearance,  supj)ose  he 
was  over  fifteen  years  old,  though  Josej)li  R.  Brown,  who  was 
a  soldier  at  the  time,  and  present  on  the  occasion,  said  this 
same  mule  helped  haul  the  stone  that  was  used  in  building 
Fort  Snelling,  and  was  by  no  means  a  youngster  at  that  time. 
"We  were  all  much  surprised  that  Mr.  Powers  should  ship 
stock  for  the  lower  markets  when  we  required  so  much  here 
and  boat-loads  were  being  shipped  to  St.  Paul  and  other 
towns.  Mr.  Powers  explained  the  reason  by  saying  that  he 
had  purchased  horses  the  previous  year  in  St.  Louis,  and 
traders  there,  who  understood  their  value,  had  requested  him 
to  secure  the  descendants  of  horses  that  had,  at  an  early 
period,  been  introduced  into  the  lower  Pied  river  valley  by 
the  Earl  of  Selkirk.  These,  with  the  French-Canadian  horses, 
were  the  original  breeds  that  were  in  use  in  pre-territorial 
days.  They  were  capable  of  great  endurance,  and  vere  fleet, 
requiring  but  little  grain  notwithstanding  the  extreme  cold, 
and  were  valuable  either  as  roadsters  or  for  the  chase.  When 
Mr.  Perry  and  his  associates  came  from  the  Hudson  Bay 
territory  and  settled  on  the  reservation  near  Fort  Snelling,  in 
1827,  they  brought  their  stock  M'ith  them,  which  included 
many  valuable  horses,  and  it  was  this  blood  that  Mr.  Powere 
was  transporting.  He  was  undoubtedly  the  first  man  in  the 
territory  who  shipped  horses  to  the  lower  country  for  the 
purpose  of  selling  them. 

On  landing  at  Galena  I  was  surprised  to  find  the  season 
was  as  forward  at  Fort  Snelling  as  it  was  in  that  city,  and  I 
found  that  such  was  the  case  all  the  way  to  Rockford.  I 
began  to  be  impressed  that,  after  all,  Minnesota  was  not  such 
a  hyijerborean  region  as  it  had  been  represented  to  be.  There 
was  no  i)erceptible  difPerence  in  the  climate  between  Rockford, 
Illinois,  and  St.  Anthony  Falls. 

A    BUSINESS    OFFEU    FKOM    CAPTAIN  (SINCE    GENERAL)  KIRKHAM. 

While  at  Rockford,  I  received  a  letter  frcmi  Oai)tain  Kirk- 
ham,  quartermaster  in  the  United  States  army  at  Fort  Snel- 
ling, in  which  he  says  :  "Major  Woods  leaves  to-day  for  Iowa, 
"  directing  the  three  companies  of  troops  to  follow  him  in 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  77 

'  about  ten  days.  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  to  be  a  summer's  job, 
'and  will  ro(juii'o  quite  a  heavy  diKlmrsement.  I  shall  send 
'ten  days'  sujiplies  of  everything  with  them,  and  two  months' 
'  supplies  of  all  rations  except  pork,  flour,  and  fresh  beef. 
'These  will  bo  j)nrchased  in  market.  Forage  will  also  have 
'to  be  bought  for  ui)wards  of  a  hundred  head  of  horses  and 
'  mules.  Now,  can  you  play  agent  or  contractor  ?  You  know 
'  what  we  agreed  upon  before  you  l(»ft.  If  you  think  it  for 
'  your  interest  to  go,  I  wish  you  would.  I  am  sure  you 
'  will  not  regret  it.  I  would  like,  in  case  you  decide  to  go,  to 
'  have  you  at  Muscatine  by  the  10th  or  17th.  AVoods  will 
'meet  the  troo})s  at  Marengo.  I  will  bring  down  funds  with 
'me  if  I  go,  and  if  I  cannot  leave  with  the  troops,  will  send 
'you  a  draft  on  i  ho  quartermaster  at  St.  Louis  for  a  thousand 
'  dollars,  which  will  be  enough  to  start  upon.  P.  S.-  The 
'  steamer  Lamartine  went  up  to  St.  Anthony  on  Saturday  the 
'  4th.  A  large  party  of  us  from  the  garrison  were  along. 
'  We  took  the  band  and  had  a  pleasant  time.  The  river  was 
'  so  strong  that  the  boat  could  not  land  on  the  east  side,  but 
'  we  6toi)i)ed  opposite  Tuttle's  place.  There  is  no  doubt  now 
'about  the  head  of  navigation." 

I  decided  to  accept  the  position  of  agent  of  the  quarter- 
master in  the  exi)edition  to  remove  the  Indians  from  Iowa 
to  the  west  side  of  the  Missouri  river,  and  so  notified  Captain 
Kirkham. 

THE   FIRST    WHITE    LADY    PIONEEK   OF   ORIGINAL   MINNEAPOLIS. 

On  the  10th  of  May  I  perfected  the  object  of  my  visit  to 
Rockford,  and  Miss  Frances  Helen  Miller,  of  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  became  my  wife  ;  and  now,  after  nearly  forty 
years  since  that  event,  I  can  with  certainty  say  that  man  was 
never  blessed  with  a  better  wife.  She  is  the  first  white  lady 
pioneer  who  became  a  permanent  resident  of  the  original 
Minneai)olis,  and  is  the  mother  of  the  first  white  child  born 
in  that  city. 

RETURN   TO    MINNESOTA. 

A  two  days'  jotimey  brought  us  to  Galena  whence,  on  Mon- 
day, the  18th  of  May,  we  embarked  with  oiir  old  friend 
Captain   Smith    and   his   excellent   clerk  Maitland,  for  Fort 


78  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Snelling.  The  steamer  was  full  of  emigrants  bound  for  the 
new  country.  Among  those  who  have  since  been  prominent 
in  Minnesota  affairs,  and  held  high  positions  in  the  state,  was 
George  W.  Moore,  who  was  for  a  long  time  connected  with 
Major  John  P.  Owens,  manager  of  the  good  old  Minnesotian, 
a  newspaper  of  much  moment  in  territorial  day.  I  met  Mr. 
Moore  a  few  days  before  at  Rockford,  and  advised  him  to 
visit  the  territory.  He  had  been  a  book-printer  in  New  York. 
On  the  way  up  the  river  we  met  several  agents  of  the  gov- 
ernment picking  up  Winnebago  Indians  who  had  stealthily 
strayed  away  from  Long  Prairie,  and  wandered  back  to  their 
old  haunts  and  hunting-grounds  on  the  banks  of  the  river  in 
Iowa  and  Wisconsin.  The  little  bands  gathered  from  time 
to  time  were  marched  to  the  hurricane-deck  of  the  steamer, 
and  when  the  last  came  aboard  at  Wabasha  prairie,  now 
Winona,  the  upper  deck  presented  the  appearance  of  an 
Indian  encampment.  They  were  so  thickly  packed  that  it 
was  difficult  for  the  pilots  to  reach  the  pilot-house.  These 
Indians,  on  their  arrival  at  St.  Paul,  were  marched  overland 
to  the  agency  at  Long  Prairie. 

ENTHUSIASM   FOR   MINNESOTA. 

In  addition  to  Mr.  Moore,  there  were  several  others  who 
for  the  first  time  were  on  their  way  to  look  for  homes  in  the 
north  ;  most  of  whom  were  pleased  with  the  country,  and 
located  on  claims,  and  have  been  useful  citizens  of  the  state. 
I  had  during  twelve  months'  residence  caught  the  enthusiasm 
of  those  who  had  preceded  me  to  Minnesota,  in  regard  to  the 
resources  and  advantages  of  the  country,  and  was  constantly 
doing  missionary  work  among  the  numerous  passengers  all 
the  way  up  the  river,  without  being  aware  of  it.  The  primi- 
tive inhal)itants  believed  in  the  brilliant  future  of  the  upper 
valley  of  the  river.  This  belief  was  contagious.  Frequently 
an  immigrant  from  the  east  would  at  first  be  disgusted  with 
the  lay  of  the  land  but,  as  a  general  rule,  the  longer  he 
remained  the  better  he  was  satisfied,  and  after  a  year's  resi- 
dence he  was,  like  all  the  others,  an  active  missionary  in 
behalf  of  his  adopted  country. 

Landing  at  St.  Paul  on  the  forenoon  of  the  IGtli,  we  were 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  79 

met  by  Mr.  Steele,  and  other  friends,  and  immediately  pro- 
ceeded by  land  to  Fort  Snelling,  which  at  that  time  was  almost 
abandoned  by  the  troops,  only  one  company  remaining  for 
garrison  duty,  the  other  companies  having  left  a  few  days 
before  for  the  wilds  of  Iowa,  where  they  were  to  l)e  emi)loyed 
in  removing  the  Indians,  and  where  I  M'as  to  join  them  with- 
out delay.  During  my  absence  Mrs.  Stevens  remained  in  the 
family  of  J.  W.  Bass  in  St.  Paul. 

Having  had  considerable  experience  in  the  quantermaster's 
department  with  the  army  in  Mexico,  it  was  thought  best  by 
the  commanding  Officer,  Colonel  Woods,  that  I  should  perfect 
the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  convenience  of  the  expe- 
dition, at  his  headc^uarters;  and  as  the  steamer  Highland  Mary 
was  on  the  eve  of  dei)arture  from  Fort  Snelling,  I  went  aboard 
and  secured  passage  for  Dubuque,  from  which  city  I  was  to 
proceed  overland  and  overtake  the  troops  at  a  point  known 
as  Patterson's  trading-post,  some  thirty  or  forty  miles  west  of 
Iowa  city.  At  that  time  there  were  scarcely  any  settlers  west 
of  Marengo  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Missouri  river. 
The  broad,  vast  country  with  its  rich  soil  stretched  out  for 
hundreds  of  miles,  which  had  to  be  traversed  before  the 
Indians  could  be  landed  on  their  reservation  west  of  the  river. 
As  the  early  season  of  1850  was  an  unusually  wet  one,  the 
j)rairies  were  almost  impassable  for  our  hea^-ily-loaded  govern- 
ment mule-teams. 

REMOVING   THE   INDIANS. 

Previous  to  my  arrival  at  the  headquarters  of  the  command 
Colonel  Woods  had  sent  out  runners  to  the  different  fragment- 
ary bands  of  Indians  who  were  scattered  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  Patterson's  trading-post,  requesting  them  to 
come  in  and  hold  a  council  with  him.  In  compliance  with 
this  request  many  of  them  responded.  Old  Poweshiek,  chief 
of  the  Pottawatomies,  accompanied  by  several  individuals  of 
his  band,  as  well  as  by  some  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  who  were 
prowling  through  the  country,  appeared,  but  no  satisfactory 
terms  could  be  agreed  upon.  Colonel  Woods  then  commenced 
gathering  them  in  with  the  troops.  This  was  a  slow,  expensive 
process,  and  not  always  attended  with   success,  on  accoiuit  of 


80  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

obstructions  thrown  in  the  way  by  traders.  For  instance, 
several  hundred  would  be  gathered  ready  to  start  the  next 
day  for  their  reservation  when,  during  the  night,  whiskey 
would  be  smuggled  into  the  camp,  and  the  result  was  that, 
when  moving-time  came  the  Indians  were  scattered  many 
miles  in  different  sections  of  the  neighborhood,  and  this  too, 
although  the  camp  was  strictly  guarded  by  the  troops.  The 
work  would  then  have  to  be  commenced  over  again.  If  there 
is  one  branch  of  service  which  the  army  despises  more  than 
another,  and  justly  too,  it  is  gathering  up  wandering  bands  of 
Indians  that  range  over  a  large  extent  of  territory,  marching 
them  into  camp,  and  guarding  them  afterwards.  If  the  mus- 
ket or  bayonet  could  be  used,  it  would  be  different.  Such 
measures  would  soon  be  effective  ;  but  the  wily,  cunning  red 
truants  were  wards  of  the  government ;  their  only  offense  was 
in  running  away  from  their  location  west  of  the  Missouri, 
they  said  because  the  climate  was  against  them,  and  there 
was  no  game.  They  wanted  to  be  let  alone  and  live  in  the 
land  where  they  were  born,  and  be  buried  by  the  graves  of 
their  fathers.  They  knew  very  well  that  powder  and  ball  and 
cold  steel  could  not  be  used  in  forcing  them  back  to  the  land 
of  their  exile.  After  repeated  attempts  to  make  a  clean  deal — 
and  some  of  them  were  successful — Colonel  Woods  closed  a 
contract  wnth  a  couple  of  citizens  to  remore  them  :  which  was 
successfully  executed. 

Every  member  of  the  command  had  a  holy  horror  of  the 
fearful,  bottomless  roads  through  the  wild,  rich  country  to 
the  Missouri.  The  troops  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
"Woods  engaged  in  the  tiresome  and  perplexing  expe- 
dition were  well  known  to  the  early  citizens  of  the  territory. 

Colonel  Woods  received  orders  from  the  War  department 
to  proceed  to  the  Lizard  Fork  of  the  Des  Moines  and  erect  a 
fort,  which  is  now  the  site  of  the  flourishing  city  of  Fort 
Dodge.  Proceeding  to  Muscatine,  which  had  been  our  ship- 
ping point  on  the  Mississippi,  I  embarked,  in  company  with 
my  wife  who  met  me  there,  on  the  steamer  Anthony  Wayne, 
Captain  Dan  Able,  for  Fort  Snelling.  Captain  Able  after- 
wards became  famous  in  the  transportation  of  troops  under 
General  Grant  during  the  earlier  stages  of  the  war  on  the 
lower  rivers.     He  was  a  favorite  with   the  first  merchants  of 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  81 

the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  in  consequence   of   repeatedly  run- 
ning his  steamer  up  to  the  Falls. 

FIRST   IMPORTED   STOCK. 

At  Muscatine  I  purchased  a  drove  of  cows,  paying  for  them 
only  seven  dollars  per  head,  and  shipped  them  to  Fort  Snel- 
ling,  to  stock  my  embryo  farm,  a  portion  of  which  is  now 
known  as  Minneapolis.  This  was  my  first  venture  in  stock 
in  Minnesota,  and  was  also  my  second  venture  in  agricultural 
matters.  I  only  nunition  this  for  the  puri)ose  of  showing  the 
low  price  of  stock  in  the  west  at  that  time.  I  paid  the  steamer 
Dr.  Franklin  No.  2  four  dollars  i)er  head  for  their  transporta- 
tion from  Muscatine  to  Fort  Snelling  ;  so  the  cows  cost  me, 
delivered  at  the  fort,  only  eleven  dollars  per  head  They 
were  a  fair  average  lot,  and  many  of  their  descendents  are  to 
be  found  in  the  state  to-day.  This  was  undoubtedly  the  first 
herd  of  cows  ever  introduced  on  the  west  bank  of  the  falls, 
outside  of  those  required  for  the  use  of  the  troops  at  Fort 
Snelling.  It  is  well  known  that  for  many  years  previous  to 
the  occupation  of  the  military  reservation  from  a  few  rods 
above  Bassett's  creek  down  toward  the  Falls  of  Minnehaha, 
the  government  summered  and  wintered  all  their  stock, 
which  was  mostly  under  the  care  of  Alpheus  R.  French,  then 
a  quartermaster-sergeant  in  the  army.  He  occupied  the  old 
government  dwelling-house,  which  was  on  the  margin  of  a 
deep  ravine  near  the  Palisade  mills,  and  his  stables  and 
yards  were  on  the  bank  of  the  river  just  below  the  dwelling- 
house. 

MINNESOTA   CLIMATE   BANISHES   CHOLERA. 

When  we  were  out  a  few  miles  from  Muscatine  my  wife 
told  me  that  she  had  learned  from  the  chambermaid  that  chol- 
era had  broken  out  among  the  passengers  on  the  boat  after  it  left 
St.  Louis  ;  that  several  persons  died  on  the  way,  and  several 
others  were  dangerously  ill  with  the  disease.  It  was  mostly 
confined  to  the  steerage,  but  a  number  of  fatal  cases  had 
occurred  in  the  cabin.  There  were  several  deaths  after  we 
came  aboard,  but  the  further  we  proceeded  up  the  river  the 
less  the  dreadful  disease  prevailed. 

On  landing  at  Galena  we  met  Mr.  Steele,  who  was  on  his 


82  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

return  home  from  tlie  Atlantic  cities.  He  was  accompanied 
by  Mrs.  Steele's  mother,  Mrs.  W.  C.  Barney  of  Baltimore. 
She  was  the  only  daughter  of  Judge  Samuel  Chase,  who  was 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and 
afterwards  one  of  the  Supreme  Judges  of  the  United  States. 
Her  husband's  father  was  the  distinguished  Commodore 
Josiah  Barney.  Better  than  all,  she  was  the  mother  of  many 
beautiful,  accomplished  daughters.  There  being  no  vacant 
state-room  in  the  ladies'  cabin,  I  gave  up  mine  to  Mrs.  Bar- 
ney, who  occupied  it  with  Mrs.  Stevens. 

When  cases  of  cholera  proved  fatal,  the  remains  were 
buried  after  dark  on  an  island  or  at  a  lauding,  in  rough  coffins 
prepared  during  the  day  by  the  ship-carjjenter.  My  experi- 
ence on  the  boat  during  this  trip  convinced  me  that  cholera 
is  worse  than  yellow-fever  or  black- vomit.  I  had  been  on 
shipboard  between  Vera  Cruz  and  New  Orleans  where  were 
many  fatal  cases  of  the  latter  ;  but  bad  as  those  cases  were, 
cholera  is  worse.  I  dislike  to  think  of  that  journey  up  the 
river. 

HIGH-WATER    OF   1850. 

As  we  neared  the  end  of  our  journey  we  noticed  that  the 
river  was  full  of  fresh-cut  logs,  and  soon  word  came  that  the 
logs  had  all  broken  through  the  St.  Anthony  boom  in  conse- 
quence of  high-water,  and  had  come  over  the  falls.  This  was 
dreadfully  unwelcome  news  to  Mr.  Steele  and  myself,  because 
the  main  dependence  of  the  new  village  of  St.  Anthony  was 
at  that  time  centered  in  pine  logs  ;  and  then  again  the  loss 
would  be  a  serious  one  to  Messrs.  Steele  and  Ard  Godfrey, 
the  owners  of  both  the  logs  and  the  mills.  It  was  afterwards 
learned  that  while  several  million  feet  of  logs  went  over  the 
falls  there  was  still  left  a  sufficient  quantity  to  keep  the  mills 
in  successful  operation  until  the  next  season's  logs  could  be 
secured  ;  but  the  loss'  was  a  heavy  one. 

Hon.  Joseph  E.  Brown,  who  came  with  the  troops  in  1819, 
said  that  the  flood  of  1850  was  the  greatest  since  the  occupa- 
tion of  the  country  by  the  government  forces. 

FIRST   TOWN-ELECTION   IN   ST.    PAUL. 

Duimg  my  absence   St.  Paul   held  a  town  election.     Dr. 


OF   MINNESOTA  AND    ITS   TEOPLE.  83 

Thomas  Potts  was  elected  president.  The  organization  was 
not  completed  too  early,  for  the  march  of  improvement  was 
almost  beyond  belief.  It  far  exceeded  the  expectation  of  the 
mt)st  sanguine  and  enthusiastic  of  those  who  had  predicted 
that  a  great  city  was  to  be  built  there  in  the  near  future. 
St.  Anthony  and  Stillwater  were  closely  following  in  the 
footsteps  of  St.  Paul. 

CHIPPEWAS   SCALP   DAKOTAS   IN   ST.    PAUL. 

Hole-in-the-Day,  blood-thirsty  chief  of  the  Chippewas,  with 
some  of  his  warriors,  made  a  raid  upon  the  Sioux  encamped 
in  the  precincts  of  St.  Paul  and  scalped  some  of  the  unfortu- 
nate Dakotas,  and  took  others  prisoners.  Governor  Ramsey 
called  the  chiefs  and  head-men  of  each  tribe  to  meet  him  in 
council  at  Fort  Snelling,  on  the  11th  of  June,  to  determine  if 
there  was  any  possibility  that  an  end  could  be  put  to  the 
frequent  butcheries  between  the  two  savage  tribes.  A  treaty 
of  peace  was  agreed  upon  only  to  be  broken  at  the  first  con- 
venient opportunity. 

ST.    PAUL   AND   ST.    ANTHONY    IN   GENEROUS   EIVALRY. 

Ice-,  bread-,  butcher-  and  milk-carts  appeared  on  the  streets 
of  St.  Paul  and  St.  Anthony  for  the  first  time  this  early 
summer.  Although  the  two  places  were  then  in  the  same 
county,  there  was  a  generous  rivalry  between  them.  Some- 
times they  "made  faces  at  one  another". 


CHAPTER  XV. 

MOVING   INTO   THE   LITTLE   HOUSE   UNDER   THE    HILL. 

The  humble  house  under  the  hill  being  ready  for  occupa- 
tion, we  moved  into  it  August  6th,  1850,  soon  after  our  return 
from  the  expedition  in  Iowa.  The  only  way  we  could  reach 
the  house  from  St.  Anthony  was  by  taking  a  small  boat, 
with  two  sets  of  oars,  above  Nicollet  Island.  The  volume  of 
water  was  so  great,  and  the  current  so  strong,  we  were  for- 
tunate if  the  landing  was  made  any  considerable  distance 
above  the  rapids. 

Captain  John  Tapper,  with  his  sinewy  arms,  required  a 
strong  assistant,  with  a  capacious  pan  for  bailing  purposes, 
to  make  a  sure  crossing  above  the  cataract.  There  were  big 
rivers  in.those  early  days  in  Minnesota. 

Pioneer  housekeeping  was  not  new  to  me,  for  I  had  long 
kept  bachelor's-hall  in  the  lead-mines,  but  it  was  a  novelty  to 
my  wife,  who  had  been  accustomed  to  the  refining  influences 
and  conveniences  of  a  well-regulated  New  York  household. 
Sometimes  for  weeks  we  would  not  see  a  white  person  :  our 
only  visitors  were  Indians.  The  ferry  was  suspended,  which 
cut  off  all  travel  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 

Mosquitoes  surrounded  the  house  in  such  swarms  that 
smoke  would  not  banish  them.  The  windows  and  doors  were 
barricaded  with  netting,  but  that  did  not  sufiice  to  protect  us 
from  them.  The  beds  also  required  bars.  With  all  this 
protection,  Captain  Tapper  was  so  annoyed  by  their  depreda- 
tions that  one  morning,  after  a  night's  duration  of  suffering, 
just  before  daylight  ho  gathered  some  blankets  and  took  refuge 
on  the  brow  of  the  hill  back  of  the  house,  hoping  to  get  a  little 


■PTIIST    HOUSE    IN     MINNKAPOLIS — ON    THE   WEST   BANK   OF  THE 
FALLS   OF    ST.    ANTHONY — 1850. 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  86 

sleep  before  breakfast.  He  rolled  himself  in  his  blankets  and 
was  jnst  entering  dream-land,  when  the  hot  breath  of  an 
animal  on  his  face  startled  him,  and  tlioroughly  ended  his 
inclination  to  sleep.  A  large  timber-wolf,  with  several  com- 
panions near  by,  M-as  in  search  of  a  breakfast  in  the  early 
twilight.  With  a  voice  that  drowned  the  roar  of  the  near 
cataract.  Captain  Tapper  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  shaking  the 
blankets — his  only  weapons  of  defense-  at  the  wolves,  he 
made  a  misstep,  rolled  down  the  precipice,  and  with  a  single 
bonnd  entered  the  door  of  the  house,  thinking  he  was  followed 
pretty  closely  by  the  wolves.  He  declared  he  would  rather 
be  bled  by  mosquitoes  than  devoured  by  wolves. 

MY    OLD    FARM   WHERE    MINNEAPOLIS    NOW   IS. 

The  time  had  come  to  commence  preparing  the  land  for  the 
plow.  August,  September,  and  October  were  considered  good 
months  for  grubbing  out  the  black  jack-oak  which  abounded 
in  such  numbers  that  it  was  with  difficulty  a  man  could  make 
his  way  through  the  thicket.  The  land  selected  to  be  cleared 
bordered  on  the  river,  running  back  eighty  rods  from  the 
bank,  and  extending  about  half-way  tip  to  the  creek.  Captain 
Tapper  had  charge  of  the  work.  He  secured  men  who  had 
experience  in  grabbing.  The  trees  were  all  cut  off  ;  the  roots 
were  then  grabbed  out  and  burned  with  the  trees.  It  was 
expensive  in  clearing  the  land  this  way,  but  when  finished 
the  plow  moved  more  easily  than  on  the  prairie.  The  soil 
was  as  mellow  as  an  ash-heap.  The  crops  that  were  produced 
on  this  land  in  after  years  were  so  heavy  that  it  encouraged 
immigrants  who  saw  the  fields  to  settle  in  the  territory.  This 
ground  is  now  mostly  covered  with  solid  blocks  of  buildings. 
The  owners  have  large  annual  returns  from  the  investments 
they  have  made  in  my  old  grain-fields  in  Minneapolis,  but 
they  cannot  feel  more  grateful  for  such  favors  than  I  did  for 
the  bountiful  crops  harvested  so  many  years  ago. 

NATIVE   GROVES   THAT  WERE  ON  THE  WEST  BANK  OF  THE  FALLS. 

There  being  many  beautiful  groves  of  hard-wood  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood,  but  mostly  outside  the  precincts  of 
my  claim,  which  I  was  anxious  to  preserve  for  the  benefit  of 


86  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

future  generations,  it  was  with  much  regret  that  I  observed, 
one  bright  September  day,  a  party  o£  men  engaged  in  felling 
trees  in  the  midst  of  one  of  the  finest  of  the  groves  near  where 
Fifth  avenue  now  crosses  Washington  avenue,  I  protested 
against  such  vandalism,  when  the  foreman  informed 
me  that  he  was  there  by  direction  of  the  chief  of  the  authori- 
ties at  Fort  Snelling,  for  the  purpose  of  making  charcoal  for 
the  use  of  the  government  blacksmiths  of  the  post !  As  many 
of  the  prettiest  trees  had  fallen  by  the  hands  of  the  axmen, 
it  was  too  late  for  making  a  journey  to  the  fort  in  their  behalf ; 
and  probably  if  a  commencement  had  not  been  made,  I  could 
not  have  changed  the  result.  It  would  not  have  made  much 
difference  any  way,  for  in  a  few  short  years  nearly  all  the 
primitive  groves  within  the  present  boundaries  of  the  city 
were  destroyed. 

EARLY   MAIL    FACILITIES. 

At  this  time  there  was  no  postoffice  in  St.  Anthony,  and  if 
there  had  been,  it  would  have  been  of  little  use  to  us,  on  ac- 
count of  the  difficulty  in  crossing  the  river.  There  were 
only  three  mail-routes  in  the  territory  ;  one  from  St.  Paul 
to  Fort  Snelling  and  back  once  a  week  ;  from  St.  Paul  to  the 
Falls  of  St.  Croix  Ana  Stillwater  and  Marine  mills  and  back 
weekly  ;  and  a  weekly  between  St.  Paul  and  Stillwater.  Our 
nearest  postoffice  on  this  side  of  the  river  was  Fort  Snelling  ; 
on  the  other  side  St.  Paul.  There  were  only  sixteen  post- 
offices  in  Minnesota,  most  of  them  on  the  banks  of  the  river 
below  St.  Paul.  We  usually  received  our  letters  and  papers 
once  a  week. 

OUR   NEIGHBORS. 

Fortunately  I  had  a  pretty  good  library,  and  Mrs.  Stevens 
had  a  piano  and  other  musical  instruments,  which  had  a  ten- 
dency to  banish  from  the  little  house  most  of  the  lonesome- 
ness  naturally  incident  to  pioneer  life  so  far  from  neighbors. 
At  that  time  the  old  government-house  was  unoccupied,  and 
remained  in  that  condition  until  the  25th  of  the  following 
April,  when  Calvin  A.  Tuttle  moved  over  from  St.  Anthony 
and  occupied  it.  During  the  last  part  of  1850  and  the  first 
part  of  1851   we   were  alone   on  the  west  bank  of  the  falla 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    I'EOPLE.  87 

Ambrose  Dyer,  a  native  of  Oneida  county,  New  York,  a 
bachelor,  was  at  one  time  during  the  year  employed  to  look 
after  the  mill-property,  which  had  Ix^en  transferred  in  1849 
to  Robert  Smith,  member  of  congress  from  Illinois.  The 
different  tribes  of  Indians  were  never  so  numerous  in  the 
neighborhood  as  in  1850.  A  constant  stream  of  Winnebagoes 
were  coming  and  going.  The  different  bands  of  Sioux 
remained  in  camp  several  months  on  the  high-lands  just 
above  the  falls.  They  did  not  interfere  with  my  stock,  but 
made  sad  havoc  with  my  garden.  As  a  general  rule  the 
Indians  respected  the  private  property  of  the  whites  residing 
outside  of  their  own  lands,  but  would  occasionally  confiscate 
the  property  of  the  missionaries.  For  instance,  Rev.  M.  N. 
Adams,  then  at  Lac-qui-j^arle,  in  a  letter  to  me  says  :  "  The 
"  general  aspect  of  things  here  at  present  is  pretty  much  as 
"  usual.  The  natives  have  again  recently  been  guilty  of  an 
"  outrage  upon  our  property.  On  last  Sabbath  they  slaugh- 
"  tered  one  of  our  best  cows.  The  mere  loss  is  but  a  small 
"matter  compared  with  other  considerations  touching  moral 
"  principles  and  the  public  good.  If  this  was  the  first  offense 
"  then  perhaps  it  might  be  looked  upon  with  some  degree  of 
"  allowance  ;  but  for  some  fourteen  years  the  missionaries 
"  have  suffered  such  outrages  at  the  hands  of  this  lawless  and 
"savage  people.  AVe  have  not  yet  ai)pealed  to  the  civil 
"authorities  for  special  interference,  although  legally  we  have 
"  a  right  to  do  so  :  for  we  are  personally  here  each  one  of  us 
"  not  only  with  the  sanction  of  the  United  States  government 
"  but  with  guarantees  of  protection  and  all  the  assistance  that 
"  is  in  the  power  of  the  civil  authorities  to  render  us  in  the 
"  prosecution  of  our  work  among  this  people." 

There  can  be  no  question  but  that  the  cussedness  of  these 
savages  was  frequently  annoying  to  the  missionaries.    ' 

POLITICAL. 

I  had  hardly  become  settled  in  my  new  home  before  I  was 
called  upon,  in  common  with  most  everyone  else,  to  take  part 
in  the  selection  of  a  candidate  for  delegate  to  congress.  Then 
as  now  there  was  a  strong  feeling  against  what  was  termed 
monopolies.     Some  persons  on  the  St.  Anthony  side  of  the 


88  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

river  were  prejudiced  against  the  mill-company.  There  was 
no  special  reason  for  this.  Every  man's,  woman's  and  child's 
bread  and  butter  depended  on  the  success  of  this  industry, 
which  at  that  time  was  the  only  one  we  had  ;  and  while  there 
was  only  an  average  of  about  twenty  thousand  feet  of  lumber 
sawed  each  day,  it  was  our  all.  We  could  not  fall  back,  as 
our  St.  Paul  friends  did,  on  the  resources  gathered  from  the 
Indian  payments.  In  that  village  if  a  bill  was  to  be  collected 
the  collector  luiderstood  very  well  that  he  would  have  to  wait 
for  his  money  until  after  the  payment  of  the  annuities  by  the 
general  government  to  the  different  Indian  nations.  Even  at 
that  early  day  St.  Paul  was  commercial :  we  were  manufac- 
turing. If  the  mill-company  wanted  a  particular  man  to  run 
for  delegate,  there  were  others  who  wanted  some  one  else. 
Party  lines  were  not  thought  of  by  the  people.  The  different 
factions  in  the  Indian  trade  had  their  favorites.  Several 
names  were  mentioned  to  succeed  Hon.  H.  H.  Sibley  as  dele- 
gate. Among  them  were  David  Olmsted,  Colonel  A.  M. 
Mitchell  the  U.  S.  marshal,  and  Captain  N.  Greene  Wilcox 
of  the  land-office  at  Stillwater  :  all  good  men.  I  was  appointed 
chairman  of  a  committee  to  correspond  with  those  residing  in 
different  parts  of  the  territory  for  the  purpose  of  an  early 
meeting  in  St.  Paul  for  consultation  in  regard  to  the  matter. 
Among  others  Rev.  G.  H.  Pond  was  solicited  to  be  present  on 
the  occasion.     He  replied  to  the  letter  of  invitation  : 

LETTER   FROM   REV.    G.    H.    POND. 

"  Oak  Grove,  August  6,  1850.  John  H.  Stevens,  St.  Peter, 
"  Minnesota — Dear  Sir  :  Your  note  of  yesterday  requesting 
"  me  to  inform  yourself  and  others  whether  or  not  I  would  be 
"  willing  to  attend  as  a  delegate,  the  proposed  convention  at 
"  St.  Paul  next  Saturday,  was  duly  received. 

"  My  reply  is,  that  it  will  not  be  practicable  for  me  to  go  to 
"  St.  Paul  on  that  day. 

"  As  regards  the  nomination  of  a  delegate  to  represent 
"  Minnesota  in  Congress,  I  think  party  feeling  ought  to  have 
"  very  little  to  do  with  it.  W'e  want  our  territory  represented, 
*'  and  not  a  party,  nor  a  company,  nor  a  society.  We  want  a 
"  man  of  respectable  abilities,  a  man  of  character,  a  man  who 


OF    .MINNESOTA    AND    ITH    PEOPLE.  89 

"will  faithfully  rcpri'sciit  \is  all,  and  one   of  -whom  we  .shall 
"  not  be  ashamed. 

"I  should  be  ashamed  to  be  represented  by  the  nominee  of 
"  a  clicpie.  I  should  have  been  better  j^leased  with  Mr.  Sibley 
"  if  he,  as  a  representative  of  the  territory,  had  kept  himself 
"  entirely  above  i)arty  and  company  interests  ;  but  notwith- 
"  standing  what  he  has  done,  his  mistakes  and  blunders  to 
"  whicli  we  are  all  liable,  I  would  still,  on  the  whole,  i)refer 
"  H.  H.  Sibley  to  any  other  man  who  has  yet  been,  named  to 
"  me  as  suitable  to  represent  our  territory  in  the  national 
"  council.  Perhaps  we  have  a  better  man  :  if  so  I  hope  he 
"  will  be  found  and  elected  ;  but  it  should  be  borne  in  mind 
"  that  those  who  are  most  (^arnest  to  obtain  the  office  may  not 
"be  best  (qualified  to  fill  it. 

"  Let  us  endeavor  to  name  a  good  man,  and  if  we  fail  to 
"  elect  him,  we  shall  not  be  ashamed  of  what  we  attempted  to 
"  do.  Better  to  fail  in  a  good  cause  than  to  succeed  in  a  l)ad 
"  one.     Truly  yours.     G.  H.  Pond." 

Mr.  Pond  had  ri^ference  to  Governor  Sibley  during  the 
early  summer  of  1849  es})ousing  the  cause,  of  the  democracy, 
when  he  said  he  "  should  have  been  better  pleased  if  he  had 
kei)t  himself  entirely  abt)ve  party".  While  Governor  Sibley 
had  i)reviously  been  active  in  everything  that  could  possibly 
benefit  the  territory,  his  politics,  to  the  mass  of  the  peoi)le 
previous  to  June  18-49,  were  unknown  ;  hence  the  announce- 
ment that  he  believed  in  the  democratic  party  of  the  day  was 
received  with  regret  by  several  of  us  old  whigs  ;  and  yet  we 
had  no  reason  to  censure  him  ;  only  we  were  in  hopes  he  was 
a  whig. 

A  conference  was  helil  by  the  friends  of  the  different  can- 
didates, and  when  election-day  came  there  were  only  two  can- 
didates in  the  field— Governor  Sibley  and  Colonel  Mitchell — 
the  former  being  re-elected.  AVhigs  voted  for  Mr.  Sibley 
and  democrats  for  Mr.  Mitchell.  There  was  no  party  contest 
in  the  election.  The  i)eople  were  well  satisfied  with  the 
result,  and  were  glad  the  election  was  over. 

A  non-partisan  election  creates  more  strife  and  bad  blood 
than  when  strict  ])arty  lines  are  observed.  AVhat  added  to 
the  excitement  was  the  interest  taken  by  the  different  houses 
engaged  in  trading  with   the  Indians.     Colonel  Mitchell,  the 


90  PERSONAL    KECOLLECTIONS 

defeated  candidate,  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  abilities,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  succeeded  J.  L.  Taylor  as  U.  S.  marshal  of  the 
territory — Mr.  Taylor  declining  to  retain  that  office  after 
the  organization  of  the  territory  in  1849,  Colonel  Mitchell 
commanded  one  of  the  Ohio  regiments  in  Mexico,  during  the 
war  of  the  United  States  with  that  repul)lic.  The  election 
campaign  was  fortunately  made  in  about  three  weeks,  so  there 
was  not  time  for  any  great  demonstrations  on  either  side, 
and  the  bad  blood  engendered  during  the  time  soon  passed 
away,  and  a  united  people  joined  with  heart  and  hand  again 
in  earnestly  laboring  for  the  development  of  the  agricultural, 
horticultural,  manufacturing,  and  commercial  resources  of  the 
territory. 

A    DISTINGUISHED    VISITOR. 

Minnesota  was  honored,  during  the  early  autumn  of  this 
year,  with  a  visit  from  Miss  Fredrika  Bremer,  the  world-wide 
known  Swedish  authoress.  In  those  colonial  times,  when 
the  country  was  mostly  occupied  by  the  red  men,  the  Indian 
summers  ( so  called )  were  splendid.  Miss  Bremer  was  channed 
with  the  one  that  year.  On  one  of  those  choice  days  she  vis- 
ited the  site  which  now  includes  the  city  of  Minneaj^olis  proper, 
when  the  foliage  of  the  trees,  in  their  beautiful  autumnal 
tints,  the  forests  brilliant  in  their  mantles  of  crimson  and 
gold,  glowed  in  the  autumn  sunlight.  She  was  enthusiastic  in 
regard  to  the  picturesque  scenery  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
falls,  declaring  it  was  the  most  lovely  wilderness  she  ever 
saw.  Such  scenery,  after  the  first  frosts,  when  the  leaves  of 
the  native  trees  seem  all  ablaze  with  celestial  flame,  so  new  to 
visitors,  is  a  familiar,  annually-recurring  sight  and  source  of 
delight  to  every  resident  of  this  state. 

Little  did  Miss  Bremer  think  that  in  a  little  more  than  one 
generation  the  site  of  that  unbroken  wilderness  that  so  charmed 
her  would  contain  within  its  limits  the  sixth-greatest  popu- 
lation of  her  Scandinavian  jjeojjle  in  any  city  in  the  known 
world  !  Miss  Bremer  was  perhaps  among  the  first  of  her 
countrywomen  who  visited  us  ;  and  it  would  seem  that  she  has 
been  a  guardian-angel  to  her  people  in  the  city,  for  they  have 
prospered  in  the  new  land  of  their  adoption. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  improvements  made  in  St.  Anthony  during  the  summer 
and  fall  of  1850  were  satisfat-tory,  though  not  as  extensive  as 
anticipated  in  the  sprin<»;.  Anson  Nortlirup  finished  in  June 
the  erection  of  the  St.  Charles  hotel,  and  for  the  times  it  was 
a  large  house,  but  not  too  c(unraodious  for  the  wants  of  the 
traveling  public. 

ARRIVALS    IN    1849. 

The  village  had  been  fortunate  the  year  previous  — 
that  of  1849  by  the  addition  to  its  numl)ers  of  such  men 
and  their  families  as  John  W.  North,  Dr.  John  H.  Murphy, 
Reuben  Bean,  Judge  Bradley  B.  Meeker,  Dr.  Ira  Kingsley, 
Elijah  Moulton,  Charles  Kingsley,  James  McMullen,  Joseph 
M.  Marshall,  John  Jackins,  William  P.  Day,  Silas  and  Isaac 
Lane,  Francis  Huot,  L.  Bostwick,  Owen  McCarty,  Moses  W. 
Getchell,  Isaac  Gilpntrick,  J.  G.  Si)ence,  Lewis  Stone, 
Rufus  Faridiam,  senior,  Rufus  Farnham,  junior,  All^ert 
Dorr,  "William  Worthingham,  Elmer  Tyler,  L,  N.  Par- 
ker (who  hauled  the  lumber  from  St.  Croix  for  Governor 
Marshall's  store),  William  Richardson,  EH  F.  Lewis,  Charles 
A.  Brown,  A.  J.  Foster,  Charles  T.  Stearns,  Stephen  Pratt, 
William  W.  Getchell,  Isaac  Ives  Lewis,  J.  Q.  A.  Nickerson, 
Ira  Burroughs,  Samuel  Fernald,  William  H.  Welcb,  F.  X. 
Creapeau,  N.  Beauteau,  John  Bean,  and  Amos  Bean  :  all  far 
above  the  average  in  regard  to  merit  and  enterprise  ;  and 
those  who  settled  in  St.  Anthony  in  1850  were  men  of  equal 
merit ;  citizens  who  ^^•ould  be  an  honor  to  any  part  of  the  Union. 


92  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

I 

ARRIVALS    IN    ST.    ANTHONY    IN    1850. 

The  following  is  a  pretty  full  list  of  persons  who  arrived 
in  1850  :  Judge  Isaac  Atwater,  Edward  Murphy,  John 
Wensinger,  Allen  Harmon,  C.  F.  Harmon,  John  S.  Mann, 
Charles  W.  Christmas,  AVilliam  Harmon,  Stephen  E.  Foster, 
George  T.  Vail,  A.  E.  Young,  E.  A.  Harmon,  Justus  H.  Moul- 
ton,  Charles  Miles,  Colonel  William  Smith,  Judge  Joel  B. 
Bassett,  Kufus  S.  Pratt,  "William  Finch,  Chandler  Harmon,. 
Reuben  B.  Gibson,  Simon  Bean,  Chris.  C.  Gavey,  Joseph 
Le  Due,  William  Stevens,  G.  G.  Loomis,  Joseph  P.  Wilson^ 
Ezra  Hanscomb,  A.  C.  Murphy,  R.  P.  Upton,  Thomas  AVar- 
wick,  Eben  How,  Stephen  Cobb,  Joseph  Dean,  Peter  Poncin,. 
Thomas  Chambers,  Horace  Webster,  Henry  Chambers,  Geo. 
W.  Chowen,  W.  W.  Wales,  Warren  Bristol,  William  L. 
Earned,  Simon  Stevens,  Captain  Benjamin  B.  Parker,  Water- 
man Stinson,  Charles  Gilpatrick,  Hon.  Baldwin  Brown,  John 
Hinkston,  Charles  Mansuer,  William  Smiley,  and  G.  W.  Tew. 

SOME    OF    THE    FIRST    PASTORS. 

Rev.  Enos  Stephens  and  Rev.  C.  W.  Newcomb  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  Rev.  W.  P.  Brown  of  the  Baptist 
church,  administered  with  much  acceptability  to  the  wants  of 
the  people  in  a  spiritual  way.  Mr.  Newcomb  was  a  particular 
favorite.  He  subsequently  became  a  colonel  in  the  army,  a 
member  of  congress  for  several  terms,  and  then  U.  S.  marshal 
for  Missouri. 

Mrs.  Worthingham,  wife  of  Wm.  Worthingham,  introduced 
into  her  grounds  beautiful  ornamental  shrubbery  and  flowers. 
That  excellent  lady,  long  since  deceased,  was  the  pioneer  at 
the  falls  in  making  her  home  beautiful,  attractive  and  pleasant 
with  choice  flowering  plants,  shade  and  ornamental  trees  and 
shrubbery. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  i)ublic  schools,  first  inaugurated  Ijy  Miss  Electa  Backus, 
were  never  more  i)rosperous  than  during  this  season.  The 
scholars  came  from  the  four  corners  of  the  globe,  nearly  all 
nations  being  representecL  They  rapidly  fell  into  the  man- 
ners, and  readily  observed  the  rules,  the  art,  and  the  ways  in 
which  western  schools  were  conducted.     Those  from  foreign 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLK  93 

lands  vied  witli  the  native-bom  from  the  different  states  of 
the  Union  in  learning  that  which  would  Ix'  useful  to  them 
through  lif(^ 

It  could  hanlly  be  expected  that  l)oys  and  girls  brought 
together  for  the  fii-st  time,  whose  nationalities  were  so  varied, 
would  make  as  rapid  progress  in  mastering  their  books  and 
studies  as  in  an  old-settled  school-district  where  jiupils  had 
been  acquainted  with  each  other  almost  from  the  time  they 
left  the  cratllc  ;  but  a  few  weeks  sufficed  for  an  acquaintimce 
and,  strangei-s  as  they  were,  in  a  month  they  Ijecame  hajjpy 
members  of  the  same  school :  but  it  was  laborious  for  the 
teachers,  at  the  commencement  of  the  school-term,  to  properly 
manage  their  i)upils. 

St.  Anthony  was  fortunate  in  the  early  days  in  securing 
such  educators  as  Professor  Merrill  and  his  associates. 

LEGISLATIVE. 

There  was  some  little  excitement  at  the  fall  election  for 
members  of  the  legislature,  but  John  AY.  North  and  Edward 
Patch  were  returned  to  the  house  of  representatives.  Both 
members  were  elected  as  democrats,  though  Mr.  North  was 
generally  knoMai  as  a  free-soiler  or  anti-slavery  man  ;  but 
both  gentlemen  were  supported  by  those  who  were  knoM-n  as 
anti-monopolists.  At  the  election  held  the  year  before  W.  R. 
Marshall  and  William  Dugas  were  elected  to  the  house,  and 
John  Rollins  to  the  council.  Captain  Rollins  held  his  seat 
for  two  years.  Citizens  at  the  falls  are  greatly  indebted  to 
Governor  Marshall  for  his  services  in  securing  the  seat  of  the 
university  in  their  midst.  He  was  at  that  time  a  prominent 
citizen  here  and,  in  company  with  his  brother  Josejjh  M. 
Marshall,  now  of  Colorado,  had  a  general -store.  For  valuable 
services  in  both  an  official  and  a  private  capacity  St.  Anthony 
cannot  be  too  grateful  to  Govei-nor  Marshall.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1854  to  Miss  Abby  Langford,  a  daughter  of  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Utica,  New  York.  He  has  resided  in  St.  Paul 
since  1852. 

GEOLOGICAL   SURVEY. 

Among  the  interesting  events  of  the  jn-evious  year  was  the 
arrival  of  Dr.    David  Dale   Owen     and  Dr.  Norwood  who, 


94  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

■under  the  auspices  of  the  United  States  government,  made  a 
very  thorough  geological  survey  of  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  falls.  They  camped  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river  for 
more  than  a  week.  About  the  same  time  General  Pope,  then 
lieutenant  in  the  topographical  corps  of  engineers,  took  the 
latitude  and  longitude  of  the  falls.  The  former  is  near  45 
degrees  north.  All  of  these  distinguished  men  were  favorably 
impressed  with  the  great  possibilities  of  the  future  in  regard 
to  the  water-power.  They  agreed  that  when  the  water  was 
controlled  by  the  proper  improvements,  that  a  large  indus- 
trial city  would  exist  in  the  neighborhood.  General  Pope 
acted  upon  this  belief  by  purchasing,  through  a  second  party, 
several  lots  in  §t.  Anthony. 

THE    LUMBER    TRADE. 

Large  preparations  were  made  during  the  summer  and  early 
fall  for  lumber  operations  during  the  winter  in  the  Rum  river 
pineries.  Owing  to  the  bad-faith  of  Hole-in-the-day,  the 
Chippewa  chief,  logging  which  had  been  prosecuted  the  pre- 
vious winter  by  Joseph  R.  Brown  on  one  of  the  tributaries  of 
the  upper  Mississippi,  was  abandoned,  and  the  cut  necessary 
for  the  consumption  of  the  mills  was  confined  exclusively  to 
the  pine  on  the  two  forks  of  Rum  river.  In  addition  to  the 
logs  required  at  the  falls  others  were  in  demand  for  a  steam- 
sawmill  that  had  been  projected  at  St.  Paul  by  the  fur  com- 
pany. This  encouraged  the  lumbermen  who  had  mostly  left 
that  business  in  Maine  and  emigrated  to  this  new  region,  to 
re-embark  in  the  same  enterprise.  They  observed  the  same 
rules  and  habits  here,  in  regard  to  that  industry  that  were 
practiced  in  the  east.  As  they  had  served  an  apprenticeship 
to  the  lumber  business,  their  experience  gave  them  great 
advantage  over  western  men,  who  in  some  instances  attempted 
to  cut  logs  in  the  Rum  river  pineries.  The  former  frequently 
made  money  ;  the  latter  seldom,  if  ever. 

VISITORS   AND   IMMIGRANTS. 

During  the  beautiful  autumn  weather  there  were  numbers 
of  visitors  to  the  falls.  Many  were  from  the  lower  country  ; 
others  from  St.  Paul,  Stillwater,  and  Fort  Snelling.     Among 


OF    MINNESOTA  AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  95 

those  who  spent  several  weeks  with  iis  was  Miss  Harriet  E. 
Bishop  of  St.  Paul.  Tliis  lady,  a  native  of  Vermont,  was  one 
of  the  pioneer  school-teachers  in  the  territory.  She  accom- 
jmnied  Governor  Slade,  a  noted  philanthropist  of  that  day, 
with  sevci-nl  other  t<vichers  from  h(>r  native  state,  to  the  west, 
for  tlie  jinrpose  of  teaching,  and  improving  the  moral  condi- 
tion of  tlie  jjeople.  Only  three  of  those  ladies  reached  this 
tenatory  ;  the  others  were  distributed  at  different  places  east 
of  us  where  their  valuable  aid  was  more  necessaiy  than  here  ; 
for  the  i-eason  that  there  were  scarcely  enough  children  in  the 
wliole  territory,  in  convenient  school-districts,  to  warrant  the 
services  of  more  than  three  teachers.  The  country  was 
sparsely  settled  at  best,  and  more  than  half  the  settlers  were 
bachelors,  or  recently  married  persons  who  did  not  have 
children  old  enough  to  attend  school.  This  was  before  the 
immigration  of  those  who  had  large  families. 

MANNER   OF   COLONIZING. 

In  subsequent  years,  so  rapidly  did  the  country  settle  up, 
it  was  not  an  uncommon  event  for  settlers,  with  a  number  of 
boys  and  girls,  to  occupy  every  quarter  section  of  land  in  a 
township,  and  three  or  four  school-districts  would  be  organ- 
ized, and  rude  school-houses  would  be  built  and  occupied  by 
teachers  and  pupils  where,  the  year  before,  there  was  not  a 
farm  opencnl  for  many  miles  from  them. 

In  some  instances  a  colony  was  made  up  in  the  east ;  an 
advance  member  of  it  was  sent  to  examine  the  country  and 
select  a  favorable  portion  of  it  for  the  colony  which  would 
follow  on  advices  received  from  him,  bringing  with  them  not 
only  a  teacher  for  their  school,  but  their  minister  of  the 
gospel.  A  colony  from  Angelica,  N.  Y.,  came  out  in  this 
way.  They  arrived  in  June,  in  time  to  secure  sufficient  hay 
for  their  stock  which  they  brought  with  them.  They  lived 
during  the  time  in  their  prairie-schooners,  which  were  cov- 
ered with  canvas  in  such  manner  as  to  protect  the  inmates 
from  the  rain.  After  securing  their  hay,  and  starting  the 
prairie-plows,  they  all  joined  hands  and  helped  one  another  ; 
put  up  a  good  log  or  frame  house  on  every  claim,  and  then 
built  their  school-house  at  some  convenient  point,  and  started 


96  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

a  churcli-buildiiig.  In  a  few  weeks  they  were  comfortably 
settled,  the  school  was  in  operation,  their  preacher  occupied 
the  pulpit,  and  a  singing-school  and  lyceum  was  organized. 
The  young  men  went  home  with  the  girls  after  these  gather- 
ings ;  everything  just  as  stable  and  as  permanent  as  if  they 
had  lived  on  their  farms  for  years,  instead  of  only  months. 
This  could  hardly  have  occurred  without  the  aid  of  the  old 
preemption  law,  which  gave  the  settler  a  year  after  settlement 
to  pay  for  his  land,  and  confined  him  to  a  quarter  section. 
The  wise  provisions  of  this  law  caused  nearly  every  quarter 
section  of  land  to  be  owned  by  an  actual  occupant,  and  that 
is  the  reason  that  the  state  became  so  thickly  inhabited. 

THE    PIONEER    SCHOOL-TEACHER. 

•  Miss  Harriet  E.  Bishop  accomplished  a  good  work  in  Min- 
nesota. No  lady  here  was  more  widely  known  and  respected. 
Her  marriage,  which  occurred  late  in  life,  was  not  a  happy 
one.  She  died  in  St.  Paul  several  years  since.  Her  memory 
will  ever  be  cherished  by  those  who  had  the  pleasure  of  her 
acquaintance. 

A  visitor's   opinion   or   THE   FALLS. 

Dr.  Ashmead,  a  noted  physician  of  Philadelphia,  spent 
several  days  in  making  a  geological  survey  at  the  falls.  He 
expressed  a  fear  that,  at  some  future  day,  the  falls  would 
recede  to  such  an  extent  as  to  seriously  injure  the  water- 
power,  unless  measures  were  taken  to  protect  them.  He  said 
the  ingenuity  of  man  could  readily  devise  such  protection  in 
a  manner  that  would  be  permanent. 

BUFFALO-HUNTING. 

On  the  14th  of  November  two  British  officers  of  high  rank 
in  the  Queen's  Guards,  noblemen,  arrived  from  an  extended 
buffalo-himt  on  the  northern  plains.  Their  names  were 
Wooley  and  Coke.  They  had  been  successful  in  the  chase, 
and  were  highly  delighted  with  the  appearance  of  the  falls. 
Colonel  Wooley  thought  the  prairies  west  of  the  big  woods 
would  rival  the  steppes  of  Bussia  in  the  j^roduction  of  wheat. 


CHAPTEK  XVII. 


A   NON-PAETISAN   LEGISLATURE. 


As  the  time  approached  for  the  meeting  of  the  legislature 
of  the  territory,  much  interest  was  manifested  in  regard  to  its 
organization.  By  law  the  session  was  to  be  opened  on 
Wednesday,  January  1st,  1851.  As  there  was  no  politics  in 
the  choice  of  delegates,  so  there  were  scarcely  any  principles 
involved,  only  personal  preferences,  in  the  election  of  officers 
of  the  legislature.  The  choice  of  a  public  printer  seemed  the 
most  important.  After  an  exciting  contest  James  M.  Good- 
hue was  elected  to  that  office. 

A   JOURNEY   TO   WASHINGTON. 

On  the  20th  of  January  I  was  surprised  by  a  visit  at  my 
home  from  a  committee  of  whig  members  of  the  council  and 
house,  requesting  me  to  proceed  at  once  to  Washington  and 
co-operate  with  Hon.  H.  H.  Sibley,  the  territorial  delegate  in 
congress,  in  matters  in  which  they  were  interested.  Reluc- 
tantly I  consented  to  make  the  journey.  Receiving  from 
Governor  Ramsey  and  others  letters  of  introduction  to  the 
President  and  members  of  the  Cabinet,  I  made  preparations 
for  the  tedious  journey.  There  wore  no  stages  in  this  part  of 
the  coiTutry  at  that  time.  At  Mendota  I  hired  a  French- 
Canadian  voyageur  by  the  name  of  St.  Martin,  who  had  a 
good  horse  and  train,  to  convey  me  down  the  Mississippi  on 
the  ice  as  far  as  Prairie  du  Chien,  where  I  could  meet  a  line 
of  stages  for  Galena.     With  plenty  of  blankets  and  robes  we 


98  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

left  Fort  Snelling  on  tlie  22d,  the  mercury  nearly  forty  degrees 
below  zero. 

A  winter  joiirney  down  the  river  on  the  ice,  at  that  day, 
through  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness,  was  not  a  pleasant 
one.  We  endeavored  to  make  each  day's  journey  to  a  wood- 
choppers'  camp,  or  a  settlement,  but  in  this  we  were  not 
always  successful,  and  sometimes  had  to  camp  out.  The  voy- 
ageur  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  route,  having  for 
many  years  traveled  over  it  for  the  fur  company.  He  claimed 
to  know  where  air-holes  in  the  ice  were  liable  to  be  and,  in 
most  instances,  he  drove  around  them  ;  but  twice  during  this 
trip  he  drove  into  one. 

Everyone  who  passed  over  the  route  expected  to  drive 
into  these  open-places  several  times.  All  went  prepared. 
The  preparation  was  simple  ;  it  consisted  of  a  rope  with  a 
noose  at  one  end  which  was  constantly  around  the  horse's 
neck,  the  other  end  being  attached  to  the  train.  When  a 
horse  fell  into  an  air-hole  the  rope  was  drawn  tightly,  which 
would  choke  and  inflate  the  animal  and  cause  it  to  rise  like  a 
cork.  As  the  air-holes  were  generally  small,  it  was  seldom 
that  the  train  went  into  them.  The  harness  was  attached  to 
the  horse  in  such  a  way  that  it  could  be  quickly  removed. 

The  first  night  brought  us  to  Point  Douglas,  where  we 
found  comfortable  quarters.  In  passing  Grey  Cloud  island 
we  saw  one  of  the  primitive  farms  of  Minnesota,  that  of 
Hazen  Moore  and  Andrew  Kobertson,  who  had  in  1839  fifty 
acres  under  cultivation.  A  little  further  down  the  river, 
where  Hastings  now  is,  Joseph  B.  Brown  had  in  1831  a  field 
of  twenty-five  acres  of  wheat,  which  was  the  first  crop  of 
wheat  raised  in  Minnesota. 

Speaking  of  early  farming  in  the  territory,  it  may  be  well 
to  state  here  that  Joseph  Haskell  and  J.  S.  Norris  commenced 
farming  back  of  Grey  Cloud  as  early  as  1839,  and  Major 
Brown  opened  a  farm  at  Traverse,  near  the  head  of  Bed  river, 
and  raised  a  fine  crop  of  wheat  in  1836.  He  was  also  the 
pioneer  in  raising  tame  grasses,  having  introduced  timothy  on 
his  farm  as  early  as  1831. 

Leaving  Point  Douglas  at  daylight  the  next  morning,  we 
made  Bed  Wing  a  resting-place,  and  were  entertained  by 
John  Bush,   the   Indian   farmer  for  Wacouta's  band.     Mr. 


OF  MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  99 

Biisli  cnme  to  Fort  Snelling  in  1825.  He  lias  resiilocl  at  St. 
Peter  since  18G4,  and  is  the  oldest  white  resident  in  the  state. 

The  ride  down  Lake  Pepin  on  the  smooth  ice  was  the  least 
disagreeable  part  of  the  journey.  AVe  remained  over  night 
at  James  Wells'  (long  an  Indian  trader)  where  wo  had  for  a 
room-mate  my  friend  Good  Road,  chief  of  the  Oak  Grove 
band  of  Dakotas.  He  was  visiting  his  relatives  on  i\w  banks 
of  the  lake.  Mr.  Wells  had  long  been  a  resident  of  Minnesota. 
His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  another  trader,  Duncan  Graham. 
Mr.  Wells  represented  the  lower  country  in  the  territorial 
legislature.  He  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  the  massacre  at 
Red  Wood,  in  August,  1862. 

The  next  place  that  offered  comfortable  quarters  was  at 
Bunnell's,  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  Mr.  Bunnell  was  an 
early  resident,  and  furnished  wood  to  the  steamboats. 

There  were  a  few  cabins  where  Winona  stands  to-day.  At 
La  Crosse  there  Avas  a  good  hotel.  From  there  to  Prairie  du 
Ohien  we  got  along  very  well.  Here  I  took  the  stage  for 
Galena,  where  I  was  joined  by  others  and  took  the  familiar 
stage  for  Chicago.  Ours  was  a  jolly  party,  fully  determined 
not  to  complain  at  whatever  might  happen.  Cold  coffee, 
hard  brown-bread,  scorched  bacon,  scant  straw  on  the  floor  of 
the  coach,  too  few  blankets  and  robes,  slow  progress,  capsizes, 
cold  stopping-places,  uncomfortable  seats  at  the  dinner-tables, 
and  poor  horses  ;  such  trifles  were  made  the  best  of,  and  we 
were  thankful  to  escape  broken  limbs,  frost-marks,  and  seri- 
ous bruises. 

Upon  reaching  Chicago  the  party  put  aside  their  heavy 
furs,  and  took  the  Michigan  Central  railroad  for  Detroit, 
from  there  to  make  a  long  and  tedious  stage-ride  through 
Canada  ;  thence  from  Niagara  to  New  York  by  rail  was  a  luxury 
to  western  men.  I  was  just  fourteen  days  from  Fort  Snelling 
to  New  York,  which  was  considered  remarkably  rapid  transit. 

At  Lovejoy's  hotel  in  New  York  (which  was  headquarters 
for  most  western  men)  I  met  Simeon  P.  Folsom  of  St.  Paul, 
also  en  route  for  Washington,  to  which  place  we  proceeded. 

Arriving  after  dark  at  the  city  of  magnificent  distances, 
we  i)ut  up  at  the  laiited  States  hotel,  and  immediately  called 
upon  Mr.  Sibley  who,  with  his  wife,  was  li%dng  near  the  hotel 
with  the  family  of  Senator  Foote  of  Mississippi.     Mr.  Sibley 


100  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

made  an  appointment  with  ns  to  call  tlie  next  day  on  the  Sec- 
retary of  State,  Hon.  Daniel  "Webster.  At  the  breakfast -table 
next  morning  we  had  for  neighbors  Howell  Cobb,  of  Georgia, 
who  was  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives,  Alexander 
Stephens,  and  Eobert  Toombs,  members  of  congress  from  the 
same  state,  David  Wilmott,  member  of  congress  from  Penn- 
sylvania, and  others  whose  names  were  known  all  over  the 
country.  Mr.  Folsom  and  myself  became  somewhat  ac- 
quainted with  these  men  whose  names  are  here  mentioned, 
some  of  whom  became  prominent  in  the  so-called  confederate 
states. 

Minnesota  in  those  days  was  looked  upon  by  many  members 
of  congress  as  a  howling  wilderness,  which  would  always  be 
the  home  of  Indians,  wild  fowls,  and  wild  beasts.  Mr.  Sibley, 
Governor  Kamsey,  David  Cooper,  Henry  M.  Eice,  and  Frank- 
lin Steele  had  succeeded  to  some  extent  in  counteracting  those 
false  impressions,  and  substituting  correct  ideas  in  their  place. 

AN   INTERVIEW   WITH    DANIEL   WEBSTER. 

At  the  appointed  hour,  11  o'clock  a.  m.,  Mr.  Sibley  called 
at  the  hotel  for  Mr.  Folsom  and  myself  to  accompany  him  to 
the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State.  Arriving  at  the  ante- 
room, we  found  it  full  of  senators  and  representatives  awaiting 
an  inter^-iew  with  the  Secretary.  Mr.  Sibley  introduced  us 
to  many  of  them  and  to  the  president  of  the  senate.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  sent  his  name  to  the  Secretary.  Soon  a 
colored  boy  came  from  the  private  office  and  in  a  loud  voice 
announced  "Mr.  Sibley,  delegate  in  congress  from  Minnesota". 
Asking  Mr.  Folsom  and  myself  to  follow  him,  Mr.  Sibley  led 
the  way,  and  passing  through  the  door,  we  stood  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  "Great  Expounder  of  the  Constitution".  Mr. 
Webster  arose  from  his  seat  behind  a  long  table,  cordially 
shook  hands  with  Mr.  Sibley,  and  turned  his  face  upon  Mr. 
Folsom  and  myself.  His  very  looks  struck  us  with  awe. 
Those  deep  black  eyes  seemed  to  jjenetrate  us  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  cause  us  to  be  almost  si^eechless.  Mr.  Sibley  im- 
mediately introduced  us.  "  Folsom,  Stevens,"  he  said,  "  these 
are  New-England  names."  Mr.  Folsom  replied  that  his 
father  was  bom  in  New  Hampshire.     I  added  that  my  father 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  101 

and  motlier  were  natives  of  Vermont.  "Oh  !"  he  replied,  "I 
thought  so."  He  spoke  of  Captain  Stevens,  wh©  had  taken  a 
prominent  i)art  in  the  Kinii;  Philip  war,  and  after  rendering 
a  tribute  to  tlie  Pilgrim  Fathers,  asked  Mr.  Sibley  if  Minnesota 
was  really  to  be  the  New  England  of  the  west.  Mr.  Sibley 
rei)lie(l  that  the  territoiy  had  all  the  characteristics  of  New 
England,  but  the  soil  and  climate  were  superior  to  it.  "  "Well, 
then,"  said  Mr.  Webster,  "  it  is  proper  that  it  should  be  set- 
tled by  New  England  people."  I  then  handed  him  my  let- 
ters of  introduction.  The  one  from  Governor  Ramsey 
seemed  to  please  him  most.  He  said  he  was  much  pleased  to 
hear  from  him.  He  had  thought  that  transferring  his  home 
from  the  fertile  fields  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  northwest  would 
be  distasteful  to  him. 

By  this  time  my  embarrassment  had  worn  away.  Mr. 
Webster  asked  what  he  could  do  for  us.  We  informed  him 
of  the  object  of  our  visit,  in  behalf  of  the  whig  members  of 
the  legislature  of  the  territory.  He  listened  attentively  while 
I  made  the  statement.  Without  a  moment's  hesitation  he 
replied,  "  Your  request  shall  be  granted."  Among  the  papers 
that  I  presented  was  one  recommending  Joseph  W.  Furber 
for  the  vacant  United  States  marshalship  for  the  territory. 
"Why,"  he  said,  "here  is  another  New  England  name."  I 
replied  that  Mr.  Furber  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire. 
Mr.  Webster  said  that  Mr.  Furber's  name  would  be  sent  to 
the  senate  the  next  day  for  confirmation.  When  we  had 
finished  our  business  with  him  and  were  about  to  leave,  he 
added,  "  Please  remember  me  kindly  to  Governor  Eamsey, 
and  convey  to  the  gentlemen  whose  signatures  are  attached 
to  this  paper  ( holding  up  a  paper  I  had  given  him )  the 
assurance  that  there  will  not  be,  at  least  at  present,  any  change 
made  in  the  Federal  appointments  in  your  territory." 

STATESMEN   OF   FORTY    YEARS   AGO. 

We  called  upon  Mr.  Charles  Conrad,  of  Louisiana,  Secretary 
of  War,  in  regard  to  the  sutlership  at  Fort  Snelling,  and  left 
with  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  there  would  be  no  change 
of  sutler  at  the  fort. 

Having  matters  to  lay  before  Mr.  Thomas  Corwin,  Secretary 


102  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

of  the  Treasury,  Mr.  Stewart,  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  and 
the  Attorney.-General,  all  of  which  business  was  transacted  in 
the  most  satisfactory  manner,  we  awaited  further  advices  from 
St.  Paul,  remaining  in  AVashington  several  weeks. 

We  heard  Henry  Clay,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  Gen.  Sam  Hous- 
ton and  Gen.  Rusk  of  Texas,  Bell  of  Temiessee,  Mangum  of 
North  Carolina,  Butler  of  South  Carolina,  Benton  of  Mo.,  and 
other  great  men,  speak  in  the  Senate  ;  and  Bobt.  Toombs,  Alex- 
ander Stephens,  Howell  Cobb  of  Georgia,  David  Wilmott  of 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  several  other  able  men  in  the  House, 
including  our  own  delegate,  Mr.  Sibley. 

During  my  stay  in  Washington  Mr.  Clay's  compromise 
measures  in  relation  to  slavery,  were  under  discussion  in  both 
houses.  In  matters  pertaining  to  our  mission,  much  aid  and 
encouragement  were  given  by  the  venerable  senator  from  Wis- 
consin, General  Henry  Dodge,  and  Hon,  O.  Cole,  member  of 
congress  from  the  same  state. 

Mr.  Folsom  and  I  have  always  considered  it  one  of  the 
happiest  events  of  our  lives  that  we  were  enabled  to  see  and 
become  partially  acquainted  with  many  of  these  great  states- 
men who  jDarticipated  in  the  stirring  events  caused  by  the 
slavery  agitation  of  nearly  forty  years  ago. 

By  the  25th  of  February  our  business  was  finished  and  we 
returned  to  New  York,  where  I  purchased  goods  for  the 
sutler's  store  at  Fort  Snelling,  and  for  a  store  to  bo  opened  in 
St.  Anthony.  These  goods  had  to  be  shipped  by  sea  to  New 
Orleans,  and  thence  uj)  the  Mississippi  by  steamboat  to  Fort 
Snelling.  It  required  at  least  sixty  days  for  ^eir  transpor- 
tation from  New  York  to  Fort  Snelling.  I  do  not  know  that 
the  cost  of  transportation  was  much  higher  then  than  now. 

HOMEWARD. 

The  journey  home  was  attended  with  many  difficulties.  I 
left  New-York  on  the  10th  of  March  and  arrived  in  Minne- 
apolis on  the  4th  of  April,  making  just  twenty-four  days  on 
the  road.  The  lakes  were  blocked  with  ice,  the  roads  were 
almost  impassable,  and  a  flood  had  swept  the  bridges  away. 
Some  i)art  of  the  journey  was  made  on  horseback,  other  por- 
tions on  foot,  or  in  a  lumber-wagon. 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  103 

At  Galena  I  purchased  for  the  whigs  of  Minnesota  an 
entire  outfit  for  a  i)rinting-t)ffice,  to  be  shipj)e(l  on  the  first 
steamer  from  that  i)hice.  The  good  old  Minnesotian,  a  paper 
of  rare  merit,  "was  afterwards  i)rinted  with  this  material,  by 
John  P.  Owens,  John  C.  Terry,  and  George  W.  Moore. 

Calcnlating  that  I  could  reach  home  in  a  week  by  land, 
via  Judge  Wyman  Knowlton's  new  route  from  Prairie  du 
Chien  to  St.  Paul,  I  took  the  stage  at  Galena  for  the  former 
place,  arriving  there  in  time  to  take  the  weekly  one-horse 
turn-out  that  carried  the  mail  through  the  woods  by  way  of 
Bad-Axe,  Springville,  Black  Eiver  Falls,  Clearwater  (now 
Eau  Clare),  Kna^jp's  Mills,  Eiver  Falls  and  Hudson,  to  St. 
Paul.  This  journey  was  attended  with  more  difficulty  than 
any  I  ever  made.  At  Beef  river,  about  10  o'clock  at  night, 
we  were  overtaken  by  the  severest  thunder-storm  I  ever 
experienced.  It  rained  and  hailed  and  rained  again  until  the 
whole  country  Avas  fiooded.  There  were  no  houses  or  cabins 
for  miles.  My  hat  was  almost  destroyed  by  the  hail.  We 
fortunately  got  the  horses  under  a  I)ig  pine  tree,  the  branches 
of  which  ])revented  them  from  being  killed  by  the  dreadful 
hail.  After  shivering  all  night  we  got  an  early  start  in 
the  morning,  and  just  after  daylight  ran  into  a  droA'e  of 
some  thirty  or  forty  elk.  They  seemed  to  have  been  so  fright- 
ened by  the  storm  as  to  flee  to  us  for  ])rotection.  The  guns 
in  the  party  were  so  drenched  by  the  rain  as  to  be  useless. 
The  elk  followed  us  for  a  time  and  then  disappeared.  They 
were  so  tame  we  thought  they  might  have  escaped  from  a 
park  belonging  to  a  hermit  whose  cabin  was  between  the 
head  of  Beef  river  and  Black  river.  The  remainder  of  the 
journey  was  attended  with  more  comfort,  but  I  was  much 
chagrined  on  waking  up  the  next  morning  after  my  arrival 
home  to  learn  from  a  passenger  that  a  steamboat  had 
arrived  at  St.  Paul  during  the  night.  The  boat  had  only  left 
Galena  three  days  jjrevious,  and  I  had  been  so  long  on  the  way. 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 

AGAIN   IN   MINNEAPOLIS. 

On  my  return  to  what  is  now  Minneapolis,  I  found  that 
during  the  winter  great  preparations  had  been  made  for 
building  in  St.  Anthony.  Not  to  be  behind  in  the  good  work, 
Mr.  Steele  and  myself  determined  to  erect  a  small  block,  the 
lower  part  to  consist  of  three  stores,  the  second-story  to  be 
for  offices,  and  the  upper  part  to  be  for  a  hall.  We  secured 
the  services  of  Joseph  Dean,  to  superintend  the  w^ork.  Wil- 
liam Worthingham  and  A.  N.  Hoyt  completed  the  masonry, 
and  by  August  the  block  was  finished  and  occupied  entire. 

THE   FIRST   WHITE   CHILD    BORN   IN  WHAT  IS  NOW  MINNEAPOLIS. 

Meantime  an  event  occurred  of  great  moment  to  me  and  mine, 
and  of  some  historical  importance  to  others.  The  morning 
of  the  30th  of  April,  1851,  was  the  coldest  for  the  time  of  the 
year  ever  known  in  the  country.  The  wind  was  blowing  from 
the  north  like  a  hurricane.  The  air  was  full  of  snow.  The 
river  was  l)ank-full,  and  the  waves  were  high.  It  was  deemed 
almost  imi)ossible  to  cross  the  river,  either  in  a  batteau,  skiflp, 
or  canoe.  It  was  necessary  that  I  should  have  communica- 
tion with  St.  Anthony,  for  the  services  of  Dr.  Murphy,  wdio 
resided  there,  were  required  in  my  family.  The  aid  of  three 
as  good  boatmen  as  ever  swung  an  oar,  with  Captain  Tapper 
at  their  head,  was  secured.  The  qiiestion  was  anxiously 
discussed,  "  Can  any  water-craft  at  our  command  Mdthstand 
the  fierce  wind,  high  waves,  and  swift  current  ?"  Captain 
Tapper  thought  our  large  batteau  would  weather  the  storm, 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  105 

but  we  were  short  of  hands.  Fortunately  Kev.  C  A.  New- 
comb,  of  the  Methodist  church  on  the  east  side,  joined  us. 
He  had  remained  over  night  Avith  my  only  neighbor,  Calvin 
A.  Tuttle,  who  had  moved  into  the  old  government  dwelling- 
house,  near  the  present  site  of  the  Palisade  mill,  only  two 
days  before.  The  water-craft  was  towed  uj)  the  river  in  the 
face  of  the  wind  to  a  point  above  Nicollet  island  in  order  to 
make  the  landing  on  the  east  side  above  that  island.  With 
much  difficulty  and  some  danger  the  crossing  was  made  and 
they  safely  returned  with  Dr.  Murphy.  About  noon  on  that 
bleak,  cold,  eventful  day,  my  first  child,  and  the  first-born 
white  child  on  the  west  bank  at  the  falls,  a  little  girl-baby, 
was  added  to  my  happy  household.  The  little  one  was  called 
Mary,  a  favorite  name  in  the  family.  She  lived  to  bloom 
into  beautiful  womanhood.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  she  gently 
crossed  the  river  of  life,  and  we  tenderly  laid  her  loved  form 
to  rest,  and  it  quietly  sleeps  in  Lakewood.  The  sun  has  never 
shone  so  brightly  in  our  household  since  her  departure. 

FIRST    BOY    BORN    ON    THE    WEST    SIDE. 

Another  interesting  event,  of  like  character,  occurred  on 
this  side  of  the  river,  in  the  family  of  my  new  and  only 
neighbor,  Mr.  Tuttle,  just  one  week  after  the  birth  of  my 
little  daughter.  A  boy-baby  made  his  appearance  there. 
He  too,  just  as  he  reached  vigorous  manhood,  crossed  the 
silei\t  river  from  which  there  is  no  return.  He  was  the  second 
white  child  born  at  the  west  bank  of  the  falls.  Up  to  this 
time  there  had  been  two  births  in  the  two  families  on  the  west 
side.  There  had  been  one  death,  that  of  an  infant,  in  the 
family  of  Mr.  Bean  who  resided  for  a  short  time  in  the  old 
government  mill  in  the  spring  of  1850. 

Mr.  Newcomb,  mentioned  above,  went  to  Missouri,  became 
a  colont^  in  the  I'nion  army  during  the  civil  war,  represented 
his  adopted  state  in  congress,  and  was  also  U.  S.  marshal  of 
Missouri. 

Our  mail  on  this  side  of  the  river  came  to  Fort  Snelling  ; 
that  for  the  east  side  came  to  St.  Paul.  Mr.  Sibley  succeeded 
in  getting  a  postoffice  established  in  St.  Anthony,  Ard  God- 
frey appointed  postmaster,  with  Josej)li  McAlpine  as  deputy, 


106  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

and  a  weekly  mail  service  from  St.  Paul.     The  people  were 
then  very  well  satisfied  with  their  mail  facilities. 

INDUSTRIES    ON    THE    EAST    SIDE. 

In  the  spring  of  1851  Alvaren  Allen,  from  Whitewater, 
Wisconsin,  arrived  with  a  few  horses  and  carriages,  which  he 
'was  constantly  solicited  to  loan  at  good  prices,  and  almost 
unconsciously  he  found  himself  in  the  livery-stable  and  stage 
business  on  the  east  side. 

Charles  T.  Stearns,  a  native  of  the  Berkshire  hills  in  the 
old  Bay  state,  came  down  from  Fort  Gaines,  where  he  had 
been  employed  in  the  construction  of  that  fortress,  and  in 
company  with  Charles  Manseur,  just  from  the  lower  country, 
started  a  cabinet  manufactory.  Immigration  was  pouring  in, 
and  household  furniture  was  in  demand.  In  the  absence  of 
seasoned  lumber  the  material  used  was  frequently  just  -as  it 
ran  through  the  saws,  full  of  sap  and  soaked  in  river  water. 

Among  the  industries  started  which  were  the  nucleus  of  the 
present  mammoth  manufacturing  establishments  of  the  pres- 
ent day,  was  a  carriage-factory  by  George  F.  Brott,  who  came 
from  New  York  to  introduce  fancy  sleighs  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  Mr.  Brott  was  successful  in  business,  became  a 
politician  and  made  free-soil  speeches,  a  land-agent  and 
located  town-sites,  built  mills,  was  sheriff  of  Eamsey  county, 
married  the  daughter  of  Charles  T.  Stearns,  emigrated  to 
New  Orleans,  became  a  princely  merchant,  and  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Washington.  Mr.  Brott  is  a  rustler  in  everything  he 
undertakes. 

Two  blacksmith-shops  were  established  this  year,  and  A. 
M.  Macfarland  from  New  Brunswick  opened  a  shoe-store. 
Mr.  William  Spooner  from  Sherbrooke,  Canada,  opened  a 
haraess  and  saddle  business.  Being  an  experienced  work- 
man of  industrious  habits,  he  soon  built  up  a  good  trade. 
Mr.  Spooner  became  a  real-estate  dealer.  Very  few  of  his 
acquaintances  in  after  years  knew  he  was  the  first  harness- 
maker  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

There  was  a  great  fascination  about  the  real-estate  business 
Men  of  almost  every  trade,  to  which  they  had  served  an 
apprenticeship,  abandoned  their  business   to   engage  in  buy- 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  107 

ing  and  selling  real-estate.  The  crisis  of  1857  tinancially 
ruined  many  of  them.  If  they  had  remained  in  their  foi-mer 
business  they  would  not  probably  ha\e  been  seriously  ati'ected. 

THE    ST.    ANTHONY    EXPRESS. 

Elmer  Tyler  had  eome  to  St.  Anthony  from  Chicago  and 
opened  a  merchant-tailoring  establishment.  Having  consid- 
erable capital,  he  si)eculated  in  town-lots.  On  the  31st  of 
May,  1851,  lie  iiitroduced  to  the  public  the  St.  Anthony 
Express,  an  eight-column  folio  weekly  newsi)a})er,  neatly 
printed  with  new  material  i)urchased  in  Chicago.  Isaac 
Atwater,  who  came  to  St.  Anthony  from  New  York  City  the 
previous  October,  was  the  editor.  "While  in  Chicago  Mr. 
Tyler  engaged  the  services  of  Mr.  H.  Woodbury  and  brother, 
two  as  good  practical  printers  as  could  l)e  found  in  that  city, 
to  take  charge  of  the  mechanical  department  of  the  office. 
The  result  was  that  the  paper  had  a  metropolitan  ai)pearance 
from  its  first  issue.  AVhen  we  consider  that  at  that  time  St. 
Anthony  had  not  to  exceed  a  popidation  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  souls,  and  at  least  one  hundred  of  that  number  were 
lumbermen  em])loyed  in  the  woods  a  good  portion  of  the 
year,  it  must  be  admitted  that  Mr.  Tyler  had  a  good  deal  of 
moral  courage  to  undertake  such  a  hazardous  enterprise. 
Aside  from  this,  St.  Anthony  belonged  to  Ramsey  county, 
and  in  St.  Paul  there  were  several  papers  already  in  existence. 
Mr.  Atwater's  able  pen,  with  the  aid  of  that  of  Shelton  Hol- 
lister,  just  from  Yale,  made  the  Express  second  in  influence 
to  no  paper  west  of  Chicago.  The  imtronage  of  the  town 
placed  it  on  a  paying  basis  from  the  start.  In  those  days 
Judge  Atwater  was  a  whig,  and  the  Express  was  a  whig  sheet, 
and  a  strong  supporter  of  the  Fillmore  administration.  The 
paper  continued  to  be  issued  by  different  proprietors,  mana- 
gers and  editors,  until  the  spring  of  18(51,  when  it  Avas  tKs- 
continued,  and  the  material  sold  and  distributed  among  dif- 
ferent newspaper  offices  in  the  state. 

The  A-illage  now  had  representatives  of  most  of  the  trades. 
Mr.  Henry  Fowler,  with  a  large  family,  from  one  of  the  pro- 
vincial cities  in  England,  opened  a  clock  and  watchmaker's 
establishment. 


108  PERSONAL    EECOLLECTIONS 

At  this  early  date  the  village  had  four  good  lawyers,  Messrs. 
E.  S.  Hall,  John  W.  North,  Isaac  Atwater,  and  David  A. 
Secombe  ;  three  doctors,  John  H.  Murphy,  Ira  Kingsley,  and 
H.  Fletcher.  These  were  all  the  professional  men,  aside 
from  the  ministers,  at  that  time  ;  but  they  kept  coming  right 
alon; 

FIRST    CHURCHES. 

In  1849  Father  Ravoux  commenced  the  erection  of  a  frame 
church-building  in  the  upper  town.  In  the  spring  of  1851 
Eev.  Mr.  Ledow  was  stationed  in  St.  Anthony,  He  was  the 
first  resident  Catholic  missionary  in  the  village,  though  Rev. 
Mr.  Galtier  and  Father  Ravoux  had,  previous  to  that  time, 
held  services  in  private  houses.  A  Methodist  church  was 
organized  at  the  east-side  residence  of  C.  A.  Tuttle  in  1849, 
by  Rev.  Enos  Stephens  of  Wisconsin.  Rev.  C.  A.  Newcomb 
was  the  resident  pastor  in  the  spring  of  1851, 

Rev.  E.  D.  Neill  of  St.  Paul  preached  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Presbytertan  missionary  society  occasionally  during 
1849  and  early  in  1850,  and  in  July,  1850,  Rev.  William  T. 
Wheeler,  formerly  a  Congregational  minister  to  Africa,  com- 
menced preaching,  but  was  succeeded  in  1851  by  Rev.  Charles 
Secombe  as  pastor.  This  was  the  fii'st  Congregational  church 
organized  in  Minnesota,  A  Baptist  church  had  been  organ- 
ized June  -24,  1850,  by  Rev.  J.  P.  Parsons,  formerly  of  the 
lead  mines  near  Galena.  Rev.  W.  C.  Brown  was  the  first 
pastor,  and  occupied  the  pulj^it  in  1851.  In  June  of  this 
year  Rev.  C.  G.  Ames  was  sent  out  from  New  England  as  a 
missionary.  He  belonged  to  the  Free-will  Baptist  church.  A 
church  was  organized  October  25th  following  Mr.  Ames's 
advent.  The  first  services  under  the  auspices  of  the  Episcopal 
church  were  held  by  Dr.  Gear  as  early  as  1849,  but  from 
July,  1850,  Rev.  Timothy  Wilcoxson  held  occasional  services 
until  October  1,  1852,  when  Rev.  J.  S.  Chamberlain  v,'as 
assigned  to  duty.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  different  denom- 
inations of  Christians  had  a  pretty  full  representation  at  this 
early  day. 

STATE   UNIVERSITY. 

On  the  same  day  that  the  Express  made  its  appearance, 
May  31,  an  event  occurred  in  St.  Anthony  of  great  interest  to 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    I'EOPLK.  109 

the  i)eoi)le  of  the  territory.  It  whs  the  organization  of  the 
board  of  regents  of  the  University  of  Minnesota  ;  the  begin- 
ning of  the  magnificent  seat  of  learning  which  every  Minne- 
sotian  is  so  proud  of  to-day.  The  charter  had  bei'U  granted 
at  tlie  previous  k'gishiture.  In  the  distribution  of  the  i)ublic 
buiklings  by  that  body  St.  Paul  was  to  have  the  capitol, 
Stillwater  the  jjenitentiary,  and  St.  Anthony  the  university. 
The  university  had  been  granted  several  thousand  acres  of 
land  by  congress.  "William  R.  Marshall  has  always  asserted 
that  St.  Anthony  got  the  best  of  the  bargain.  The  organiza- 
tion of  the  board  was  as  follows  :  Franklin  Steele,  president  ; 
John  W.  North,  treasurer  ;  Isaac  Atwater,  secretary  ;  and 
William  R.  Marshall,  li])rarian.  The  original  members  of 
the  board  selected  by  the  legislature  contained  such  well- 
known  men  as  Henry  H.  Sibley,  Henry  M.  Rice,  Alexander 
Ramsey,  B.  B.  Meeker,  Isaac  Atwater,  "William  R.  Marshall, 
('.  K.  Smith,  Franklin  Steele,  and  A.  Van  Vorhees,  with  John 
"W.  North  as  their  attorney. 

STAGES,  BOATS  AND  CARS. 

A  much-needed  service  to  the  traveling  public  was  supplied 
early  this  spring  by  the  establishment  of  a  four-horse  stage- 
line  between  St.  Paul  and  St.  Anthony,  by  two  young  men 
by  the  name  of  Patterson  and  Benson.  They  ran  a  Concord- 
coach  between  those  points,  going  and  returning  once  in  the 
forenoon,  and  going  and  returning  once  in  the  afternoon. 
The  price  charged  M'as  half  a  dollar  each  way.  I  do  not  see 
how  any  one  could  possibly  have  foretold  at  that  time  that  in 
a  little  more  than  a  generation  there  would  be  four  or  five 
railroad  companies  running  half-hourly  trains  between 
Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  and  other  railroad  trains  several 
times  a  day,  all  fiill  of  passengers,  and  the  traveling  public 
demanding  more  facilities.  Such  a  thing  as  a  railroad  was 
not  thought  of  ;  but  after  several  boats  had  landed  in  lower 
Minneapolis,  the  ([uestion  whether  the  future  head  of  naviga- 
tion on  the  Mississippi  would  be  at  St.  Paul  or  at  the  Falls 
of  St.  Anthony  was  a  live  issue  in  those  days.  The  import- 
ance of  the  navigation  of  the  river  between  those  two  places 
at  that  time  was  considered  so  essential  that  in  discussing  the 


110  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

matter  the  usually  conservative  pen  of  Judge  Atwater  became 
quite  radical.  The  new  paper  declared  that  when  it  was  once 
settled,  as  it  soon  would  be,  that  St.  Anthony  Falls  is  the 
real  head  of  navigation  on  the  Mississippi  river,  St.  Paul 
M'ould  retrograde  to  a  modest  village.  A  line  of  boats  did 
establish  the  fact  that  they  could  riTii  to  the  Falls,  but  the 
result  was  not  so  beneficial  as  every  one  expected.  John'  G. 
Lennon  erected  a  commodious  warehouse  at  the  lower  land- 
ing on  the  east  side.  Others  built  another  at  Murphy's 
landing  on  the  west  side  ;  but  both  investments  were  unre- 
munerative.  Undoubtedly  had  navigation  been  considered  a 
necessity,  boats  would  long  since  have  landed  at  St.  Anthony 
as  often  as  at  St.  Paul,  but  when  E.  F.  Drake,  in  the  early 
sixties,  built  for  the  St.  Paul  and  Pacific  a  railroad  between 
the  two  points,  and  other  roads  followed,  navigation  between 
the  two  points  ceased  to  be  necessary  ;  and  now  a  great  many 
think  it  would  not  prove  beneficial. 

TELEGRAPHIC. 

A  strong  attempt  was  made  in  early  summer  to  raise  enough 
money  by  subscription  to  build  a  telegraph-line  from  the 
Falls  to  Galena.  W.  Chute  of  the  last-named  place  canvassed 
all  the  towns  between  the  two  points  and  only  succeeded  in 
getting  about  $16,000  subscribed.  As  it  would  require  almost 
as  much  again  the  enterprise  was  abandoned.  In  1860,  nine 
years  afterwards,  Mr.  Winslow  pushed  the  line  to  completion. 

THE   FIRST   MANUFACTURES. 

Up  to  this  time  there  had,  with  few  exceptions,  been  only 
lumber  manufactured  at  the  Falls.  James  McMullen,  who 
came  here  in  1849,  during  the  following  winter  made  numer- 
ous sleds  and  sleighs,  for  which  he  found  ready  sale.  He 
may  be  properly  classed  as  the  first,  outside  of  the  mill  com- 
pany, to  engage  in  manufacturing  at  the  Falls. 


•^^ 


CHAPTEK  XIX. 

THE   OUTLOOK    IN    THE   SUMMEll   OF   1851. 

Except  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Falls,  in  early 
summer,  the  roar  of  the  cataract  fell  upon  a  jiathless  prairie 
for  everything  but  the  Indian  and  the  wild  game  he  pursued, 
but  every  boat  that  landed  at  St.  Paul  brought  those  who 
became  permanent  settlers  of  St.  Anthony  and  its  vicinity. 
The  Express  said  that  it  required  "  no  very  sagacious  observer 
of  the  change  that  is  taking  place  to  j^redict  the  future  of  the 
place.  The  important  position  which  St.  Anthony  occupies 
must  inevitably  make  her  the  great  manufacturing  and  com- 
mercial town  of  the  northwest." 

THE   SCALPING   RED-SKINS. 

In  our  efforts  to  encourage  immigrants  who  were  seeking 
lands  to  settle  ui)on  for  farming  purposes,  to  locate  above  the 
Falls,  we  occasionally  received  a  set-back  in  consequence  of 
Indian  disturbances.  Late  this  spring  a  war-party  of  Dakotas 
were  after  Chippewa  scalps  on  Swan  river.  They  found  one 
of  their  foes  who  had  a  keg  of  whisky.  Bloodthirsty  as  they 
were,  they  cared  more  for  the  whisky  than  for  the  scalp  of 
the  Chippewa,  for  while  they  ceased  hostilities  long  enough 
to  take  a  drink,  the  Chippewa  escaped.  By  the  time  the  con- 
tents of  the  keg  were  disposed  of  the  Dakotas  were  drunk. 
When  in  that  condition  a  white  man's  scalp  is  as  valuable  to 
them  as  that  of  a  Chippewa  ;  hence  they  attacked  a  party  of 
teamsters  on  the  road  from  St.  Paul  with  military  stores  for 
Fort  Gaines,  and  killed  a  worthy  man  named  Andrew  Swartz. 


112  PERSONAL    KECOLLECTIONS 

Such  occurrences  prevented  the  occupation  of  the  really  good 
farming  lands  above  the  Falls. 

In  the  first  settlement  on  Coon  creek,  just  above  St,  Anthony, 
the  Indians  killed  such  domestic  cattle  as  they  could  find 
belonging  to  the  whites,  which  discouraged  the  settlers. 

The  first  military  duty  in  the  field  by  Lieutenant  E.  "W. 
Johnson,  after  his  arrival  at  Fort  Snelling  in  1849,  was  to 
remove  a  band  of  pilfering  Indians  who  were  engaged  in 
killing  cattle  belonging  to  settlers  above  the  Falls.  His 
headquarters  while  engaged  in  this  duty,  were  at  the  junction 
of  Eum  river  with  the  Mississippi — now  the  flourishing  city 
of  Anoka.  What  made*  it  more  discouraging  was  that  the 
mauraders  were  seldom  punished.  Those  who  murdered 
Swartz  escaped  from  the  military  authorities  at  Fort  Ripley 
and  were  never  recaptured. 

A  year  later  some  Dakota  Indians  met  a  party  of  German 
immigrants  above  Mendota  and  shot  one  of  them,  Mrs. 
Keener,  killing  her  instantly.  In  this  instance  the  Indians 
were  punished  in  the  most  thorough  manner.  They  were 
compelled  by  the  government  forces  to  surrender  the  mur- 
derer, Yu-ha-zee,  who  was  tried,  convicted,  and  hung  in  St. 
Paul,  but  not  until  a  year  after  his  conviction  by  the  court. 

IMMIGRATION,    STAGES   AND    NAVIGATION. 

As  the  season  advanced  immigration  increased.  Messrs. 
Amherst  Willoughby  and  Simon  Powers  of  St.  Paul  had 
established  a  two-horse  stage  and  expi-ess,  which  made  daily 
trips  to  the  different  towns  immediately  connected  with  St. 
Paul,  but  the  volume  of  travel  so  increased  that  these  enter- 
prising gentlemen  stocked  their  route  with  good  horses,  and 
Concord  coaches  imported  from  the  factorv  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. Messrs.  Willoughby  &  Power's  line  of  coaches  to  St. 
Anthony  was  called  the  red  line  because  it  Avas  jjainted  red, 
Messrs.  Patterson  &  Benson's  line  was  known  as  the  yellow 
line  because  the  coaches  were  painted  yellow.  The  rivalry 
between  the  two  lines  became  intense,  though  neither  offered 
to  reduce  the  rates  of  fare. 

AYhile  St.  Anthony  was  unable  to  secure  navigation  between 
St.    Paul   and   the   Falls,    yet   through   the   energy  of  «Tohn 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  113 

Rollins  the  river  above  the  Falls  was  made  an  important  use 
of  in  the  ninning  of  steamboats  to  Sauk  Kapids.  Captain 
Rollins  was  a  native  of  New  Sharon,  Maine,  and  was  born  in 
1806.  Before  cominj^  to  Minnesota  he  was  engaged  as  lum- 
berman, and  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  legislature  of 
his  native  state.  In  1848  he  visited  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony, 
and  was  so  pleased  with  the  country  that  he  moved  his  family 
here  in  the  spring  of  1849.  The  same  year  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  territorial  council.  Having  had  considerable 
experience  in  the  somewhat  difficult  navigation  of  the  rivers 
in  his  native  state,  he  became  satisfied  that  navigation 
above  the  Falls  could  be  made  profitable  with  steamers  of  the 
same  style  as  those  used  on  the  rivers  in  Maine.  He  deter- 
mined to  make  the  experiment,  and  gave  orders  for  the  build- 
ing of  a  boat  similar  to  those  used  on  the  Penobscot.  The 
boiler,  engine,  and  all  iron-work,  were  made  in  Bangor,  and 
when  completed  were  shipped  by  sea  to  New  Orleans  and  up 
the  Mississippi  to  St.  Paul.  The  hull  and  all  wood  work  was 
made  in  the  village,  under  the  supervision  of  experienced 
ship-carpenters  who  came  from  Maine  to  superintend  the 
work.  It  was  found,  when  the  steamer  was  finished,  that  it 
worked  to  perfection.  He  called  it  the  Governor  Ramsey,  in 
honor  of  our  first  governor.  The  problem  was  solved  so  far 
as  the  navigation  of  the  river  above  the  Falls  was  concerned. 
He  manned  the  steamer  with  experienced  boatmen  who  had 
served  an  apprenticeship  on  similar  water-craft  in  Maine. 
He  sent  there  for  them.  Captain  Benjamin  B.  Parker  was 
the  master.  He  soon  built  up  a  prosperous  trade  on  the  river, 
and  from  1851  and  for  several  years,  the  Governor  Ramsey 
was  Avell  patronized  by  the  business  men  of  the  upper  river. 
In  the  meantime  several  other  boats  were  built  and  became 
rivals  of  the  Governor  Ramsey. 

UPPER    MISSISSIPPI   BOATS   WITHDRAWN. 

During  the  civil  war  there  was  a  great  demand  for  small, 
light-draft  steamers  to  run  on  the  tributaries  and  bayous  of 
the  lower  Mississippi,  to  transport  troops  and  munitions  of 
war  from  the  deep  waters  of  the  parent  stream  through  the 
shallow  streams  leading  into  the  interior  of  the  country.     All 


114  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

the  steamers  above  the  Falls  were  used  for  this  purpose. 
They  were  moved  on  rollers  by  land  around  the  cataract, 
launched  in  the  river  below  it,  and  steamed  toward  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  never  to  return.  Perhaps  it  was  just  as  well,  as 
the  advent  of  railroads  up  the  river  about  the  time  of  the 
removal  of  the  steamers  down  the  stream  would  have  made 
navigation  of  the  upper  waters  unprofitable.  Besides,  the 
owners  of  the  boats  obtained  a  good  price  for  their  property. 

A   REPRESENTATIVE    PIONEER. 

Captain  Rollins  was  one  of  our  most  enterprising  men.  I 
once  made  a  long  winter's  journey  with  him,  when  a  regent 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  through  the  Mississippi 
pineries,  in  selecting  pine  lands  for  that  institution.  He  was 
capable  of  enduring  great  fatigue,  as  I  well  know  from  per- 
sonal observation,  and  was  considered  one  of  the  best  judges 
of  pine  lands  in  the  state.  He  died  universally  respected  and 
lamented,  at  his  pleasant  home  in  St.  Anthony  in  1885.  There 
is  no  doubt  but  that  the  navigation  of  the  upper  Mississippi, 
in  those  early  days,  attracted  more  immigration  to  that 
locality  than  all  other  efforts.  Stearns,  Wright,  Benton  and 
Sherburne  counties  felt  the  influence  to  a  very  great  extent. 
Farmers  were  willing  to  settle  on  lands  that  were  in  the 
vicinity  of  navigable  waters. 

The  river  was  very  high  during  the  whole  season  of  1851. 
On  June  26th  of  that  year  a  great  many  of  the  logs  in  the 
mill-pond  were  swept  over  the  dam,  but  fortunately  enough 
remained  to  supply  the  mill,  which  was  kept  running  to  its 
full  capacity  for  the  whole  year,  and  at  the  close  of  the  sea- 
son but  little  sawed  lumber  was  left  for  the  winter  market. 
Much  of  the  building  material  required  for  immediate  use 
was  kiln-dried,  but  more  of  it  had  to  be  used  entirely  green. 
The  shrinkage,  when  made  into  buildings,  was  considerable, 
and  created  wide  openings  in  the  ceilings  that  admitted  the 
cold.  Otherwise  the  houses  were  good.  Some  of  them  are 
occupied  to-day  by  the  descendants  of  those  who  built  them. 

FIRST    MERCHANTS    AT    THE    FALLS. 

As  the  season  advanced  the  merchants  of  the  village  decided 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  115 

to  compete  for  a  portion  of  the  Red  river  trade.  The  annual 
caravan  Avaa  exjjected  about  the  middle  of  July.  Heretofore 
this  trade  had  been  coiitined  to  Fort  Snelliug,  St.  Paul,  and  at 
an  early  day  to  Mendota.  The  first  real  live  merchant  in  St. 
Anthony  was  R.  P.  Russell,  who  came  to  Fort  Snelliug  in  the 
fall  of  1839.  Nine  years  later  he  commenced  commercial 
pursuits,  and  October  3  the  same  year  married  Miss  Marian 
Patch,  a  daughter  of  Luther  Patch,  and  a  lady  of  great  merit. 
Mr.  Patch  with  his  family  had  been  a  resident  of  the  place 
for  more  than  a  year.  Mr.  Russell  was  not  only  the  first 
merchant,  but  set  an  excellent  example  to  the  others  who  came 
afterwards  and  were  bachelors  by  getting  married. 

"William  R.  Marshall,  in  the  spring  of  1849,  established  the 
second  store.  Later  that  year  John  George  Lennon,  of  the 
house  of  P.  Choteau  &  Co.,  the  head  of  the  American  Fur 
Company,  opened  the  third  store.  The  fourth  store  was 
established  in  May  1851  by  Messrs.  Steele  <fe  Stevens.  The 
same  year  Mr.  R.  P.  Upton  succeeded  Mr.  Marshall.  J.  P. 
Wilson  opened  a  store  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town,  and  E. 
Case  and  his  son  S.  W.  Case,  opened  a  grocery  store 
opposite  the  St.  Charles.  These  merchants  tried  to  attract  the 
attention  of  the  Red  river  traders,  and  prevent  them  from 
trading  exclusively  with  the  merchants  they  had  formerly 
dealt  with.  When  the  hundred  or  more  carts  made  their 
appearance  en  route  for  St.  Paul,  inducements  were  presented 
to  the  principal  traders  in  the  caravan,  with  the  result  of  a 
moderate  exchange  of  goods  for  furs,  pemmican  and  Indian 
curiosities.  Still  the  lion's  share  went  to  St.  Paul.  Many  of 
the  merchants  with  the  expedition  bought  their  goods  for 
cash,  having  sold  their  furs  far  down  the  valley  of  the  Red 
river  to  the  agents  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  receiving 
for  them  English  coin. 

OUR   FIRST   GRIST-MILLS. 

ITj)  to  this  time  but  little  grain  had  been  raised  in  the  ter- 
ritory ;  and  for  that  matter,  with  the  exception  of  vegetables, 
but  little  of  anything  else  to  eat.  In  1850  a  few  farmers 
sowed  wheat,  and  harvested  an  abundant  yield  ;  but  there 
being  no  mills  in  the  vicinity  it  had  to  be  shipped,  in  order 
to  realize  money  on  it,  to  Messrs.  Teutons'  mill  at  Prairie  du 


116  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

Chien,  whicli  was  the  nearest  mill  ( if  we  except  the  small  one 
on  Boles'  creek,  with  only  one  run  of  stones)  to  the  Falls. 
The  Express,  in  speaking  of  our  wants  in  this  particular,  said 
there  ought  to  be  a  large  mill  of  the  first  class  for  grinding 
grain  put  iip  at  once.  That  paper  was  confident  there  would 
be  sufficient  grain  grown  in  this  vicinity  in  1851  and  1852  to 
keep  such  a  mill  in  full  operation  the  year  round.  It  added 
that  it  was  an  absurd  idea  to  send  all  our  grain  out  of  the 
territory  three  or  four  hundred  miles  distant  to  be  manufac- 
tured into  flour  or  meal,  when  we  have  the  most  splendid 
water  power  in  the  world,  of  unlimited  extent.  Although  this 
is  now  the  greatest  milling  center  in  the  world,  the  jDeople  in 
this  neighborhood  had  to  wait  for  several  years  after  1851, 
before  there  was  a  grist-mill  at  the  Falls. 

AN    INDIAN    TREATY. 

We  were  all  very  much  interested  in  the  result  of  the  great 
Indian  treaty  held  in  the  early  summer  of  1851,  at  Traverse 
des  Sioux.  At  that  period  most  of  those  who  had  ever  held 
an  office  in  the  territory,  or  traded  with  the  Indians,  and 
everyone  who  could  get  away  from  his  home,  went  to  Trav- 
erse to  be  present  on  the  occasion.  Twenty-one  millions  of 
acres  of  the  choicest  agricultural  lands  in  the  northwest  were 
owned  by  the  Indians.  The  whites  wanted  it,  and  the  Indians 
wanted  to  sell  it.  Governor  Alexander  Ramsey,  and  Hon. 
Luke  Lea,  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  at  Washington, 
represented  the  United  States.  The  territory  included  all 
the  lands  west  of  the  MississiiDjDi  river  from  the  Iowa  line  to 
the  boundaries  of  the  Chippewa  reservation,  and  so  west 
beyond  the  boundaries  of  Minnesota.  The  bargain  was  com- 
menced on  July  2d,  and  lasted  until  the  22d  of  that  month 
before  it  was  completed.  The  Indians  received  a  large  sum 
in  gold  at  the  signing  of  the  treaty,  and  a  large  annuity 
annually  in  cash,  goods  and  provisions,  for  twenty  years 
afterwards.  The  government  also  paid  all  the  debts  they 
owed  to  the  Indian  traders.  The  Indians  spent  their  money 
freely  on  their  return  from  the  treaty,  making  for  a  short 
time  a  large  circulation  of  gold  in  the  business-circles  of  the 
territory.     This  treaty  was  the  most  important  event  that  had 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  117 

ever  transpired  in  Minnesota.  Its  good  effects  were  visible  at 
once.  St.  Paul,  St.  Anthony,  and  Stillwater  were  not  the 
only  i)ortions  of  the  country  to  be  benefitted.  New  towns 
were  to  spring  up.  The  town-sites  upon  which  were  Winona, 
Shakopec,  Eod  AVing,  Mankato,  Rochester,  and  those  of 
other  well-ki^wn  cities  and  villages  that  exist  now,  were  to 
be  occupied  by  the  whites. 

JUSTICES    OF    THE    PEACE. 

At  this  time  the  village  had  three  justices  of  the  peace — 
Dr.  Ira  Kingsley,  Charles  E.  Leonard,  and  Lardner  Bostwick. 
Justice  Leonard  represented  the  uj^per  part  of  the  village. 
It  was  seldom  the  justices  had  any  business.  Once  in  a  while 
a  small  lawsuit  was  brought  before  them,  which  in  most 
instances  was  caused  by  claim-jumping.  People  had  not  been 
in  the  country  hmg  enough  to  get  in  debt  to  any  great  extent, 
and  if  they  had,  they  had  a  year  in  which  to  pay.  The 
monthly  collection  of  bills  was  then  unknown.  B.  Cloutier 
had  a  bowling-alle}'  and  a  saloon.  Once  in  a  while  a  disjjute 
would  arise  between  his  customers,  but  it  was  settled  by  an 
adjournment  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  where  the  parties  would 
fight  it  out,  shake  hands  after  the  battle,  and  that  was  the  last 
of  it.  The  courts  were  seldom  called  upon  to  punish  such 
law-breakers. 

Almost  every  state  and  nation  was  represented  in  the  list 
of  settlers,  though  nine  out  of  ten  of  the  lumbermen  were 
from  Maine,  the  others  from  the  British  provinces,  with  a  few 
from  the  middle  states.  All  in  all,  it  would  be  very  difficult 
to  find  a  more  orderly  and  law-abiding  people.  They  had 
come  to  the  Falls  to  settle  for  life.  They  woidd  grow  up  with 
the  city,  and  aid  in  developing  its  resources.  They  were  in 
favor  of  good  habits  and  good  morals  in  their  every-day  life. 

MOSQUITOES. 

This  year  mosquitoes  were  more  numerous  than  ever.  At 
sunset  the  air  was  filled  with  them.  Everyone,  unless  pvo- 
tected,  was  made  to  suffer  from  their  blood-thirstiness.  I 
had  been  pretty  well  acquainted  with  this  pest  on  the  Spanish 
main,  at  the  balize  at  the   mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  at  Vera 


118  PEESONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Cruz,  at  Corpus  Christi,  and  Brazos  Santiago — places  noted 
throughout  the  Avorld  for  being  a  great  rendezvous  of  mos- 
quitoes— but  I  never  saw  them  more  numerous  than  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Falls  during  the  first  few  years  after 
occupation  by  the  whites.  Neither  smoke,  smudges,  or  fire 
would  banish  them.  Mosquito-bars  in  the  dooi'^'ays  and 
around  the  beds  were  inefficient  protection.  The  breaking  up 
of  the  prairie,  the  draining  of  the  ponds  and  marshes,  the 
building  of  houses,  and  the  results  of  civilization  generally, 
have  made  the  mosquito  comparatively  a  pest  of  the  past. 

CHARACTER  OF  THE  IMMIGRATION — FIRST  SURVEYORS. 

Most  of  the  immigration  this  year  was  composed  of  farmers 
from  different  sections  of  the  east.  They  wanted  lands  for 
farms,  to  live  on  permanently.  This  kept  our  land-surveyors 
busy  in  tracing  the  lines  of  the  wild  lands,  so  that  the  claim- 
ants could  i)lace  the  correct  boundaries  to  their  farms.  Here- 
tofore William  E.  Marshall  had  been  the  only  surveyor,  but 
his  mercantile  and  other  business  pursuits  were  such  that  he 
could  not  attend  to  outside  work.  The  year  jjrevious  Charles 
W.  Christmas  arrived  in  St.  Anthony  from  Wooster,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Christinas  was  a  surveyor  of  experience.  He  had  been 
employed  by  the  government  in  surveying  the  public  lands  in 
Michigan.  He  at  once  had  all  the  work  he  could  do  in  run- 
ning the  lines  of  the  land  claimed  by  those  seeking  new  homes 
in  the  territory.  Mr.  Christmas  was  the  first  register  of  the 
United  States  land-office  at  Sauk  Rapids.  On  the  organi- 
zation of  Hennepin  county  he  was  elected  county  surveyor, 
an  office  he  held  for  inany  years.  He  surveyed  the  first  lands 
into  lots  in  Minneapolis  proper  and  was  the  principal  engineer 
on  all  the  territorial  roads  running  into  or  out  of  St.  Anthony 
and  Minneai)olis.  He  made  and  occupied  a  claim  on  the 
Indian  lands  just  above  the  boundary  of  the  Fort  Snelling 
military  reservation  in  north  Minneapolis.  He  lived  to  see 
Minneapolis  grow  into  a  large  city.  He  died  about  three 
years  since  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-three  years. 

FIRST   MECHANICS. 

St.  Anthony  had  now  nearly  all  the  home  mechanics  neces- 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PKOPLE.  119 

sary  to  complete  ImikliiigK  from  f'oiimlatioii .  to  ridge.  "NVil 
liam  Worthiiigliam,  a  master  mason  .md  a  first-class  work- 
man, had  emigrated  from  Chicago  to  the  village,  and  was  con- 
stantly employed  on  the  foundations  for  houses,  and  also  plas- 
tering. He  lironght  his  workmen  from  Chicago.  The 
quarries  so  al)nndant  on  the  banks  of  the  river  afforded  the 
very  best  material  for  foundations  and  walls.  Edgar  Folsom 
established  a  lime-kiln,  which  aiforded  lime  for  the  first  coat, 
but  finishing-lime  at  first  had  to  be  imported  from  below 
Prairie  du  Chien.  Subsequently  it  was  secured  at  Clear- 
water. Elias  H.  Conner,  avIio  came  to  the  village  in  1848, 
Edward  Patch  and  S.  Huse  about  the  same  time,  George  T. 
Vail  and  Justus  H.  Moulton,  in  1850,  and  Josei)li  Dean,  James 
M.  Garrett,  and  Stephen  Fullard,  in  the  spring  of  1851,  were 
all  superior  master-carpenters.  Up  to  this  time  we  lacked  a 
professional  house-  and  sign-painter,  but  A.  Stone,  a  native 
of  New  Hampshire,  fortunately  wandered  out  west,  selected 
St.  Anthony  for  his  home,  and  our  wants  in  this  particular 
were  supplied.  He  was  soon  followed  by  John  HollaucL 
Previously  the  village  had,  to  a  great  extent,  dejjended  upon 
J.  M  Boal  and  other  painters  in  St.  Paul  for  work  of  this 
character.  From  this  time  on  we  had  our  own  citizens  of 
every  trade,  and  were  no  longer  dependent  on  outsiders  for 
aid  in  any  enterprise  we  might  undertake,  to  forward  the 
interests  of  our  young -s-illage.  While  as  a  mat  tor  of  fact  I 
was  not  a  resident  or  a  voter  in  St.  Anthony  at  that  time,  all 
my  business  was  centered  there,  and  I  felt  great  interest  in 
its  prosperity.  My  residence  and  home  was  on  i\iv  western 
bank  of  the  river,  in  another  county,  known  as  Dahkotah.  The 
center  of  the  river  was  the  boundary-line  between  Ramsey 
and  Dahkotah  counties. 

No  new  village  can  expect  praise  from  the  traveling  jjublic 
unless  it  contains  a  good  hotel,  or  a  house  of  entertainment 
that  is  comfortable  for  those  who  are  obliged  to  seek  a  tem- 
porary home  there.  St.  Anthony  was  peculiarly  fortunate  in 
having  such  a  home.  In  1849  Anson  Northrujj  commenced 
the  erection  of  the  St.  Charles,  a  first-class  hotel,  sufficient 
for  the  accommodation  of  seventy-five  guests,  and  finished  it 
in  June  1850. 

And  yet  with  all  the  bright  prospects  of  the  future,  in  con- 


120  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

sequence  of  an  unfortunate  sale  of  a  lialf -interest  in  the  mills 
and  the  landed,  property  to  Arnold  W.  Taylor  of  Boston,  wlio 
refused  to  sell  his  half  of  the  lots  to  those  who  wanted  to  build 
houses  on  them,  the  village  did  not  make  the  growth  that  was 
expected.  In  time,  however,  Mr.  Steele  purchased  back  the 
property  from  Mr.  Taylor,  but  the  village  lost  while  the  prop- 
erty was  thus  tied  up  by  Mr.  Taylor's  obstinacy. 

FIRST    FARMERS. 

While  the  village  was  thus  prospering,  several  farmers 
occupied  the  agricultural  lands  adjoining  it.  In  1850  L.  C. 
Timpson  and  N.  O.  Phillips  made  two  claims  on  section  six. 
Lewis  Stone  and  his  two  sons  made  three  claims  near  Timp- 
son's.  Mr.  Finch,  a  brother-in-law  of  Hon.  J.  AV.  North,  just 
from  New  York,  made  a  claim  and  a  valuable  farm  near  the 
Messrs.  Stone's  claims.  AVilliam  Dugas  and  Joseph  Eeach 
had  good  farms  just  above  Bottineau's  addition  as  early  as 
1847.  William  Smith  and  Joseph  Libby,  natives  of  Maine, 
opened  valuable  farms  near  the  road  leading  to  St.  Paul. 
Judge  Meeker  purchased  from  a  Canadian-Frenchman  the 
farm  just  below  Mr.  Cheever's.  This  farm  had  been  M'orked 
four  or  five  years.  Henry  Cole  opened  a  valuable  farm  out  a 
little  northeast  of  the  village.  Gordon  G.  Loomis  and  Cap- 
tain John  Rollins  made  claims  to  the  hay-lands  adjoining  on 
the  east"  of  the  village.  Robert  W.  Cummings  and  Henry 
Angell  had  claims  and  improved  them  north  and  east  of 
Messrs.  Loomis  and  Rollins.  William  A.  Cheever  in  laying 
out  St.  Anthony  city,  reserved  a  portion  of  his  land  for  farm- 
ing jnirposes.  Calvin  A.  Tuttle  had  a  field  of  forty  acres,  a 
portion  of  which  includes  the  present  University  grounds,  as 
does  the  former  farm  of  Mr.  Cheever,  on  which  large  crops 
were  raised.  John  Balif  once  owned  Mr.  Tuttle's  claim  ; 
he  afterwards  settled  on  Nine-mile  creek.  Washington 
Getchell  made  a  claim  on  section  three,  but  sold  it  the 
following  year  to  Edward  Patch.  AVilliam  L.  Larned,  who 
was  elected  to  the  territorial  council  in  the  fall  of  1851,  made 
a  claim  back  of  the  hay-meadow  in  1850,  and  plowed  some 
eighty  acres  and  raised  satisfactory  crops  on  it  for  several 
years.     He  resided  on  his  farm.     Joseph  Potvin  made  a  claim 


OF  MINNESOTA  ANJ)  ITS  PEOPLE.  121 

and  occupied  it  in  184.S  lun-tlieast  of  the  village.  Mr.  Gibbs, 
who  had  resided  the  i^revious  year  with  Mr.  Tuttle,  opened 
his  fine  farm  on  the  Como  road  in  1851.  There  were  one  or 
two  other  claims  made  into  farms  up  to  this  time  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  village  ;  but  the  claimants  became  discouraged 
and  only  occupied  their  lands  ft)r  a  short  time,  and  then 
sold  out  and  removed  from  tlic^  country.  Most  of  the  farms 
mentioned  above  are  now  included  in  the  east  division  of  the 
city,  and  all  are  valuable,  though  with  few  exce])tions  the  first 
occupants  did  not  realize  as  much  moiiey  for  their  laT)or  as 
they  should.  The  price  of  farm  products  ruled  low  in  the 
early  fifties.  I  believe  Mr.  Gibbs  is  about  the  only  one  of 
those  named  who  occtipies  and  owns  at  this  time  the  original 
farm  settled  on  so  many  years  since. 

THE  FALL  ELECTIONS  OF  1851. 
As  the  summer  passed,  the  politicians  commenced  their 
canvass  in  regard  to  the  approaching  fall  elections.  Mr. 
Sibley  held  over,  having  been  elected  the  previous  fall  a  dele- 
gate for  two  years.  A  full  ticket  was  to  be  elected  in  Ramsey 
county.  At  a  Democratic  county  convention  held  in  St.  Paul 
George  F.  Brott  of  St.  Anthony  received  the  nomination  for 
sheriff,  John  W.  North  for  county  attorney,  and  Dr.  H. 
Fletcher  for  judge  of  probate,  which  was  deemed  a  pretty 
liberal  division  of  the  county  candidates.  Ramsey  county 
retained  the  nominations  for  register  of  deeds,  treasurer,  sur- 
veyor, and  commissioner.  The  whigs  did  not  nominate  a 
ticket,  but  joined  the  people's  party.  At  a  convention  of  the 
latter  Anson  Northruj)  was  nominated  for  sheriff,  and  Dr. 
Ira  B.  Kingsley  for  judge  of  probate.  The  other  candidates 
were  assigned  to  St.  Paul.  Mr.  Brott  and  Dr.  Kingsley  were 
elected.  R.  P.  Russi^ll  held  over  as  commissioner.  Thus  St. 
Anthony  contained,  January  1,  1852,  three  citizens  who  held 
county  offices  in  Ramsey  county.  At  a  district  convention 
William  L.  Larned  was  nominated  for  the  territorial  council. 
Isaac  Atwater  was  selected  as  the  whig  candidate.  A  lively 
canvass  was  made,  and  Mr.  Larned  was  elected  by  a  small 
majority.  Sumner  W.  Farnham  and  Dr.  John  H.  Murphy 
were  elected  to  the  house  of  representatives  from  St.  Anthony. 
There  were  few  offices  to  be  filled,  but  the  excitement  was 
greater  than  at  such  elections  new. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

ENTHUSIASM,    FASCINATION,   AND    ROMANCE   OF    FRONTIER   LIFE. 

I  was  now  pretty  well  acclimated  in  this  new  country,  and 
was  delighted  with  all  that  appertains  to  the  climate.  The 
winters  are  cold,  but  pleasant.  Cold  must  be  expected  in  a 
high  latitude  diiring  the  winter  months.  They  are  made  for 
each  other.  Minnesota  would  not  be  real  with  a  tropical 
winter  ;  neither  would  it  be  desirable.  There  is  no  shivering, 
sickening,  milk-and-water  cold,  such  as  is  frequently  felt  in  a 
lower  latitude,  penetrating  the  bones  and  marrow  with  a  damp 
chilliness,  and  affecting  one  with  gloomy  forebodings  and  des- 
pondent disagreeableness.  Here  we  know  what  to  depend  on. 
In  the  lower  country  one  day  it  is  summer-heat,  the  next  rain, 
maybe  sleet,  the  mercury  low  enough  to  afford  the  greatest 
discomfort  to  man  and  beast  :  taxing  the  mind,  the  body  and 
the  health  ;  while  here  we  know  just  what  to  expect — a  steady, 
"Vigorous,  bracing,  healthy  (with  all  the  word  implies)  cold  ! 
We  are  prepared  to  meet  the  winter  on  his  coming.  Our 
houses,  bams,  stables,  and  outbuildings  are  made  warm  and 
comfortable. 

While  the  sjjring  months,  or  at  least  March  and  April,  are 
too  much  like  the  winter  months  of  the  southern  states,  they 
are  on  the  whole  enjoyable.  I  have  found  May  to  be  a  par- 
ticularly pleasant  month.  Spring  days  we  have  when  the 
azure  is  flecked  with  fleecy  clouds  ;  the  air  deliciously  soft, 
moist,  warm,  and  breezy  ;  the  sunshine  subdued,  mellow, 
dreamy  ;  the  maple  in  full,  fresh  leaf ;  the  native  oak  in 
tender  half -foliage  ;  and  birds  are  joyous  in  song  :   a  spring 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  123 

resurrection  of  vei^etable  life  from  its  winter  desolation  and 
death — as  refreshing  to  the  spirit  as  balmy  air  to  the  sense. 

The  summer  season  is  all  that  we  can  ask  or  wish  for. 
The  autumns  are  delightful.  The  Indian-summer  is  one  of 
the  most  charming  seasons  of  the  year.  It  comes  late  in 
the  fall  and  is  of  long  duration.  A  serious  inconvenience 
attending  it  is  the  disastrous  prairie-tires.  In  the  fall  of 
1851  the  Indians  out  west  of  the  lakes  set  tires  which,  during 
a  strong  wind,  came  sweeping  over  the  prairie,  endangering 
my  buildings  and  the  lives  of  my  stock.  After  such  A'isita- 
tions  the  surface  of  the  country  had  a  bleak,  desolate,  dreary 
appearance,  which  remained  until  vegetation  started  the  fol- 
lowing spring. 

The  fine  scenery,  steel-blue  sky,  majestic  rivers,  ch^ar  lakes, 
leaping  water-falls,  gleeful  streamlets,  invigorating  atmosphere, 
and  health-giving  climate  of  Minnesota — merit  the  praise 
of  all  who  have  experienced  them  during  the  half-century 
since  white  men  came  among  the  Indian  natives  of  this 
land  of  the  Dakotas.  The  dry  air  of  its  cold  winters,  and  the 
cool  nights  of  its  hot  summers,  are  a  source  of  perennial 
pleasure.  Because  there  was  water  everywhere,  Nicollet 
called  the  country  Undine.  Equally  may  the  red-man's  Ho  ! 
and  Ha-ha  !  express  the  pleasure  and  siirprise  of  all  at  sight 
of  the  foaming  waterfalls  and  sunny  lakes. 

Recollecting  the  youthful  enthusiasm  I  shared  with  others 
in  those  days,  as  we  appreciated  the  advantages  of  the  soil, 
climate,  facilities,  resources,  and  location  of  this  country,  it 
seems  not  so  great  a  surprise,  as  it  otherwise  Avould  be,  that 
this  state  has  leaped  from  obscurity  and  savagery  into  a  blaze 
of  civilized  glory.  The  enterprise  of  its  people,  and  the 
energy  of  its  progress,  is  a  theme  of  world-wide  praise.  Here 
is  an  elevated  plateau  that  may  command  the  world  ! 


CHAPTEK  XXI. 

BLACK   BEARS. 

During  the  latter  part  of  summer  the  country  was  full  of 
bears.  A  band  of  Dakotas  in  the  neighborhood  of  Eice  Lake 
in  two  days  killed  twenty-five  of  them.  They  frequented  the 
road-side  between  St.  Anthony  and  St.  Paul.  Two  were  seen 
within  a  mile  of  the  Democrat  office  in  the  last-named  village. 
Mr.  Charles  Moseau,  who  resided  on  the  southeastern  bank  of 
Lake  Calhoun,  came  in  contact  with  a  huge  bear  of  seven 
hundred  pounds  weight.  A  desperate  fight  took  place  between 
Mr.  Moseau  and  bruin  and  the  bear  came  out  second-best. 
From  that  time  to  this  those  brutes  have  never  made  their 
appearance  in  this  vicinity. 

A    WILD    DEER    ON    SPIRIT    ISLAND. 

Mysteriously  a  deer  was  the  occupant  of  Spirit  Island,  close 
to  the  precipice  of  the  Falls,  in  1851.  The  water  was  so  high 
that  year  that  the  island  could  not  be  reached,  and  the  animal 
was  not  interfered  with,  but  it  is  supposed  made  its  escape 
during  the  extreme  cold  in  the  beginning  of  winter  when  ice 
connected  the  island  with  the  main  shore  ;  but  this  is  only  a 
supposition,  as  no  one  seemed  to  know  how  it  reached  or  how 
it  escaped  from  the  island. 

riONEER    FARMING. 

Having  grubbed  out  and  broken  up,  during  the  summer  of 
1850,  some  forty  acres  of  land  immediately  on  the  bank  of  the 
river  al)ove  my  hous(%  my  youngest  brother,  Simon  Stevens, 
now  of  Clearwater  in  this  state,  and  Henry  Chambers  (who 
died  some  two  years  since  in  California ),  were  engaged  during 
the  spring  and  summer  of  1851  in  working  the  farm.     Messrs. 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    TEOPLE.  125 

Stevens  and  Chambers  came  to  me  in  1850.  This  farm  was 
the  first  one  o]ien{'(l  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  aside  from 
the  farms  worked  ])y  the  military  authorities  at  Fort  Snelling, 
and  aside  too  from  the  Indian,  the  missionaries,  and  the 
Indian  traders'  farms.  It  was  understood  at  that  time  that  it 
was  also  the  first  farm  that  was  opened  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river  from  the  Iowa  line  to  Sauk  Rapids.  I  had  a  field  for 
wheat,  one  for  corn,  another  for  oats,  and  several  smaller  ones 
for  buckwheat,  i)otatoes,  and  other  vegetables.  This  land 
makes  at  this  time  a  thousand  times  more  money  for  the 
owners  than  it  did  at  that  time  for  me,  but  it  was  a  great 
advantage  to  the  territory  as  an  attraction  to  immigrants. 
Almost  every  stranger  who  visited  the  territory  was  desirous 
of  seeing  the  Falls  from  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  in 
most  instances  crossed  the  ferry.  In  doing  so  they  weresur- 
l)rised,  as  they  reached  the  western  bank  of  the  stream,  to  see 
the  fields  of  oats,  wheat,  and  corn,  that  would  be  a  credit  to 
central  Illinois.  Those  fields  of  grain  decided  the  destiny  of 
many  an  immigrant.  It  put  an  end  to  all  doubts  possibly 
entertained  in  regard  to  the  capability  of  Minnesota  soil  for 
producing  large  crops  of  grain.  It  dispelled  all  fear  from  the 
minds  of  those  who  were  wavering  as  to  the  future  production 
of  cereals  in  the  territory.  As  immigration  was  then  the 
great  staple  of  the  country,  it  accomplished  a  good  work  in 
that  behalf. 

NEW   CLAIMS   ON   THE   WEST   SIDE. 

Meantime  we  were  endeavoring  to  secure  more  neighbors 
on  the  reservation.  It  was  evident  to  the  commanding  officer 
at  Fort  Snelling  that  Congress  was  disposed  to  reduce  the 
large  tract  of  land  held  for  military  purposes,  and  he  ceased 
to  be  as  vigilant  in  keeping  off  trespassers  as  his  predecessors 
were.  The  reservation  extended  from  the  Minnesota  river  to 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above  Bassett's  creek,  and  from  the 
bank  of  the  Mississij)pi  back  to  the  other  side  of  lakes  Cal- 
houn, and  Harriet,  and  Lake  of  the  Woods.  On  the  east  side  of 
the  river  it  went  down  nearly  to  the  cave,  and  almost  up  to 
Denoyer's.  It  was  not  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  troojjs. 
The  officer  in  command  at  the  Fort  at  that  time  was  Colonel 


126  PERSONAL   ]:rCOLLECTIONS 

Francis  Lee,  of  the  Sixth  infantry.  In  August  he  reluctantly 
gave  John  P.  Miller,  who  came  to  the  country  with  me,  (and 
the  only  one  of  our  company  that  organized  in  Rockford,  111., 
who  remained  after  our  up-country  expedition  in  May,  1849, ) 
a  permit  to  occupy  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  was 
subsequently  known  as  Atwater's  addition  to  Minneapolis. 
Mr.  Miller  took  possession  of  this  land  in  August,  1851.  H'e 
had  since  his  return  from  the  Eum  river  expedition,  remained 
in  St.  Paul  working  at  his  trade,  that  of  a  carpenter.  He  had 
a  partner  with  him  in  the  claim,  a  Mr.  Daniel  Steele,  who 
remained  for  over  a  year  and  then  sold  out  his  interest  in  the 
claim  to  Mr.  Miller.  They  built  a  comfortable  dwelling- 
house,  barn,  and  stables,  and  broke  up  some  eighty  acres  of 
land.  For  a  year  or  two  Mr.  Miller  was  the  most  extensive 
farmer  in  the  colony.  He  remained  on  his  claim  some  three 
years,  when  in  consequence  of  uncertainty  of  obtaining  a  title 
to  the  land,  he  sold  out  for  a  very  fair  price  to  his  neighbor, 
Edward  Murphy.  The  latter  soon  sold  to  Judge  Atwater, 
who  pre-empted  it  in  April,  1855,  and  subsequently  laid  it  out 
into  lots  for  building  purposes,  and  it  is  now  covered  all  over 
with  houses. 

The  Indian  lands  having  been  opened  for  settlers,  Mr. 
Miller  made  a  claim  in  the  neighborhood  of  Minnetonka  mills, 
from  which  time  to  the  present  day  he  has  been  one  of  the 
most  prominent  farmers  and  citizens  of  the  county.  Mr. 
Miller  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  had  from  boyhood 
lived  at  Bucuyrus,  Ohio,  mitil  1848,  when  he  moved  to  Eock- 
ford,  Illinois,  and  from  there  in  April,  1849,  to  Minnesota. 

INDIANS   ENCAMPED   AT   THE   FALLS. 

The  two  lake  bands  of  Indians,  so  called  because  they 
formerly  lived  on  the  shores  of  lakes  Calhoun  and  Harriet, 
but  then  residing  at  Oak  Grove  (now  Bloomington),  encamped 
on  the  high  land  above  the  Falls  for  several  weeks  in  July 
and  August.  They  had  considerable  money  left  that  they 
had  received  at  the  Traverse  des  Sioux  treaty  held  a  few 
weeks  previous.  They  had  brought  their  own  canoes  down 
the  Minnesota  river,  and  then  up  the  Mississippi  to  the  foot 
of  the   rapids,  at  which   point  they  constantly  crossed  the 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    I'EOPLE.  127 

river  to  the  8t.  Anthony  side  for  the  i)urpose  of  trading.  Tlie 
Express,  for  the  benefit  of  eastern  readei's,  thus  described  the 

COSTUME   OF   THE   DAKOTA   SQUAWS  : 

"  Their  dress  is  a  shirt,  leggins  reaching  to  the  thigh,  a  large 
"  blanket  and  moccasins  ;  and  the  men  wear  breech-cloths, 
"  whicli  is  about  the  only  difference  in  their  dress.  They  are 
"  very  fond  of  ornaments.  Their  leggins  and  ornaments  are 
"  of  divers  colors  ;  some  are  black,  others  blue,  some  red,  and 
"others  yellow.  Some  wear  cme  leggin  red  and  the  other 
"  blue  or  black." 

BEHAVIOUR    OF    THE    INDIANS    WHILE    AT    THE    FALLS. 

The  Indians  during  their  encampment  were  constantly  on 
the  alert,  fearing  an  attack  from  the  Chippewas,  but  they 
were  so  fond  of  trading,  and  the  money  they  had  left  burned 
in  their  pockets  to  such  an  extent,  that  they  were  willing  to 
risk  their  scali)s  at  that  time  for  the  pleasure  they  expe- 
rienced in  exchanging  their  money  for  goods.  They  were 
not  molested,  however,  during  their  stay,  and  when  their 
money  was  gone  they  folded  their  tepees  and  returned  to 
their  village.  They,  however,  appeared  again  during  the 
fall  with  large  (quantities  of  cranberries,  which  the  merchants 
and  the  citizens  of  St.  Anthony  were  eager  to  purchase.  They 
had  previously  given  me  the  name  of  Mi-ni-sni  —  cold 
water — and  were  always  friendly,  supplying  my  family,  at  the 
proper  season  of  the  year,  with  game  in  abundance,  but 
expecting,  and  always  receiving,  pay  therefor.  The  only 
uncomfortable  thing  in  regard  to  their  jDresence  was  a  fear 
that  the  Chippewas  might  at  any  moment  drop  on  them,  and 
in  the  excitement  of  a  battle  some  of  us  might  be  injured  by 
the  reckless  use  they  would  make  of  their  g-uns  on  siich  an 
occasion.  It  was  always  a  relief  to  us  when  they  had  finished 
their  sojourn  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Falls.  To  the  credit 
of  the  traders  in  St.  Anthony,  there  was  never  a  drop  of  strong 
drink  sold  to  the  Indians,  and  as  a  consequence  there  was 
never  any  of  them  intoxicated.  Numerous  as  they  were 
around  the  Falls,  I  cannot  remember  of  ever  seeing  an  Indian, 
whether  Winnebago,  Chippewa,  or  Dakota,  under  the  influ- 


128  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

ence  of  mi-ni-si-ca.  The  St.  Anthony  dealers  should  have 
credit  for  this,  for  an  Indian,  with  rare  exceptions,  will  drink 
whisky  when  he  can  get  it. 

NAMING   THE   TOWN. 

We  were  agitating  the  subject  of  a  name  for  our  prospective 
little  town.  It  was  insisted  that  Mr.  Tuttle  and  myself  should 
select  a  name  for  it.  The  newspapers  of  the  territory  sug- 
gested several  names.  Goodhue,  of  the  Pioneer,  had  no 
patience  when  any  other  name  than  All  Saints  was  talked  of. 
His  letters  to  me  were  always  thus  addressed.  Following  is 
a  specimen,  received  in  September  of  that  year :  "I  Math  my 
"wife  and  sister,  three  children  and  servant-girl,  propose  to 
"dine  with  you  to-morrow,  Tuesday,  at  All  Saints."  This 
was  a  pointer  that  I  could  not  well  misunderstand.  Miss 
Mary  A.  Scofield,  a  young  lady  of  much  literary  merit,  had 
resided  in  my  family  for  nearly  a  year.  She  favored  the  name 
suggested  by  Colonel  Goodhue,  and  dated  all  her  letters  and 
articles  for  publication  from  All  Saints,  and  it  seemed  that 
this  was  to  be  the  name.  The  christening  was  put  off  so  long 
that  when  other  settlers  came  they  had  suggestions  to  make  ; 
but  they  could  not  agree  what  the  name  should  be.  Hon. 
Amos  Tuck,  then  a  member  of  congress  from  New  Hampshire, 
made  me  a  visit  during  the  discussion,  and  said,  "  whatever 
"  else  you  do,  give  it  a  suggestive  Indian  name.  It  will  not  be 
"  long  before  the  red-man  will  have  disappeared  from  the 
"  face  of  the  earth  ;  bestow  a  name  on  your  place  by  which 
"  future  generations  will  know  that  it  originated  from  a  people 
"  who  once  were  its  sole  owners  and  occupants  ;  such  names 
"will  be  all  that  the  aborigines  will  be  remembered  by." 
We  hesitated— and  remained  nameless. 


CHAPTEE  XXII. 

FIRST   CLAIMS   ON   THE   WEST   SIDE   OF   ST.    ANTHONY   FALLS. 

As  the  autumn  months  approached,  we  made  strenuous 
efforts  to  secure  more  neighbors  on  our  side  of  the  river. 
Dr.  Hezekiah  Fletcher,  a  native  of  Maine,  with  several  friends, 
waited  on  the  commanding  officer  at  Fort  Snelling,  and 
received  permission  to  occupy  a  claim  far  back,  as  it  was  then 
thought,  in  the  country.  It  is  now  known  as  J.  S.  and 
Wyman  Elliott's  addition  to  Minneapolis.  He  immediately 
erected  a  small  dwelling  on  it,  which  stood  on  the  present 
site  of  the  mansion  of  Daniel  Elliott,  on  Portland  avenue, 
between  Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth  streets.  He  remained 
some  two  years  in  peaceful  possession  of  it,  when  he  sold  out 
to  John  L.  Tenny  who,  in  the  spring  of  1854,  disposed  of  it 
to  Dr.  Jacob  S.  Elliott.  Dr.  Fletcher  received  twelve  hundred 
dollars  for  his  interest  in  the  claim,  from  Mr.  Tenny,  and  the 
latter  obtained  some  two  thousand  dollars  from  Dr.  Elliott. 
This  seems  a  small  price  for  land  that  is  worth  so  many  mil- 
lions to-day,  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  title  to  it 
was  in  the  government,  and  there  was  a  good  deal  of  uncer- 
tainty as  to  when,  if  ever,  it  could  be  obtained.  To  be  sure,  a 
year  afterwards  the  land  was  pre-empted,  and  then,  of  course, 
it  was  worth  as  many  thousands  as  Dr.  Elliot  had  paid  hun- 
dreds for  it  to  Mr.  Tenny. 

Dr.  Fletcher  remained  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  territorial  house  of  representatives 
in  the  fall  of  1853  for  the  session  of  1854,  and  was  appointed 
register  of  the  United  States  land-office  in  1863.     Upon  the 


130  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

expiratiou  of  liis  office,  he  moved  to  Springfield,  Missouri. 
In  1862  Mr.  Tenuy  returned  to  his  native  state,  Maine.  Dr. 
Elliott  is  also  a  native  of  the  same  state.  Several  years  since 
he  moved  to  California,  but  still  has  large  property  interests 
in  the  city. 

The  boundaries  of  all  the  claims  made  in  this  vicinity  up 
to  the  fall  of  1854  were  arbitrary,  as  the  land  had  not  been 
surveyed,  but  Mr.  Christmas,  and  other  surveyors,  traced  the 
lines  over  from  the  government  surveys  on  the  east  side  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  afford  very  definite  information  where 
the  lines  would  be  when  the  government  should  see  fit  to 
order  a  survey.  In  fact  the  lines  Mr.  Christmas  brought 
over  proved  perf ectlj^  correct.  Tlie  government  surveys  were 
made  in  1854  preparatory  to  bringing  the  land  into  market. 

A  few  weeks  after  Dr.  Fletcher  obtained  his  permit,  John 
Jackins,  formerly  of  Maine,  but  previous  to  his  settling  in 
St.  Anthony  for  some  years  a  lumberman  on  the  St.  Croix, 
obtained  permission  to  occupy  the  land  immediately  in  the 
rear  of  my  claim,  and  built  a  house  late  in  the  fall  on  what  is 
now  the  syndicate  block,  but  he  did  not  occupy  it  until  the 
following  spring.   Mr.  Jackins  pre-empted  his  land  April,  1855. 

Isaac  Brown,  who  came  from  Maine  in  the  spring  of  1851, 
after  Mr.  Jackins  moved  on  his  claim,  made  some  arrange- 
ment by  which  he  secured  several  acres  of  land  from  Mr. 
Jackins.  Mr.  Brown  eventually  built  a  large  dwelling-house 
on  the  corner  of  Sixth  street  and  third  avenue  south.  He 
was  the  first  sheriff  of  Hennepin  county,  having  been  elected 
to  that  office  at  the  first  election  previous  to  the  organization 
of  the  county.  The  election  was  held  October  lltli,  1852. 
Mr.  Jackins  was  chosen  one  of  the  county  commissioners  at 
the  same  election.  Both  Messrs.  Jackins  and  Brown  laid  out 
their  land  in  lots  in  1855.  Mr.  Brown  died  many  years  since. 
Mr.  Jackins  was  for  many  years  a  merchant  in  Minneapolis. 
He  now  resides  in  California. 

Warren  Bristol  came  from  New  York  to  St.  Anthony  in  the 
spring  of  1851,  and  resided  with  W.  L.  Larned.  Having  been 
admitted  to  the  bar,  he  was  anxious  to  settle  in  the  territory 
and  practice  his  profession.  Although  we  had  but  a  small 
population  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  the  prospects  were 
favorable  for  a  large  one  in  a  short  time. 


OF    MINNESOTA    ANi)    ITS    PKOl'LE.  131 

Occasionally  rotiuirin^  aid  in  the  way  of  advice  on  matters 
of  law,  I  solicited  the  removal  of  Mr.  Bristol  to  this  new 
village.  He  responded,  and  late  in  the  fall  received  i)ermis- 
sion  from  the  military  authorities  to  occupy  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  adjoining  and  west  of  Dr.  Fletcher's  claim. 
During  the  following  winter  he  built  a  house  on  his  land. 
It  occupied  the  site  of  the  high-school  edifice,  Fourth  avenue 
south,  between  Grant  and  Eleventh  streets.  Before  the  land 
came  into  market,  he  exchanged  his  claim  for  St.  Paul  prop- 
erty. He  was  the  first  district  attorney  of  Hennepin  county. 
He  moved  to  Red  Wing,  Goodhue  county,  and  was  afterwards 
a  member  of  the  lumse  of  representatives,  and  senator  from 
that  county.  He  was  appointed,  by  President  Grant,  United 
States  supreme  judge  for  New  Mexico,  an  office  which  he  held 
for  many  years.     He  is  still  a  resident  of  that  territory. 

The  time  had  now  arrived  when  it  was  necessary  that  we 
should  take  earnest  measures  in  regard  to  the  formation  of  a 
new  county  and,  if  possible,  have  the  boundaries  of  it  fixed  so 
as  to  secure  the  future  county-seat  in  our  neighborhood. 
We  had  been,  since  the  fall  of  1849,  a  part  of  Dakota  county, 
the  county-seat  of  which  was  at  Mendota.  An  effort  had  been 
made  a  year  before  to  secure  the  passage  of  a  bill  by  the  leg- 
islature making  a  new  county,  but  it  was  deemed  premature. 

The  members  of  the  legislature  representing  this  district 
at  the  winter  session  of  1851  were  Hon.  Martin  McLeod  of 
Lac-qui-parle,  of  the  council  ;  and  Alex.  Faribault  of  Mendota, 
and  Benjamin,  H.  Randall  of  Fort  Snelling,  members  of  the 
house  of  representative.  Mr.  McLeod  was  Avilling  to  assist 
lis  in  the  passage  of  the  bill,  but  it  was  almost  too  much  to 
expect  that  we  could  rely  on  the  vote  of  Mr.  Faribault,  as  the 
formation  of  a  new  county,  with  the  boundaries  as  we  wanted 
it,  would  interfere  with  Mendota.  Mr.  Randall,  who  had  been 
a  resident  of  Fort  Snelling  since  the  fall  of  1849,  and  employed 
in  the  sutler's  store,  would  aid  Mr.  McLeod,  but  it  was  deemed 
best  to  wait  until  the  next  session  before  making  a  strong 
movement  in  the  matter. 

As  the  election  of  a  new  delegation  to  the  legislature  for 
the  session  of  1852  was  approaching,  we  determined  to  select 
such  candidates  as  would  be  favorable  to  the  organization  of 
the  new  county.     All  were  in  favor  of  the  re-election  of  Mar- 


132  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

tin  McLeod  to  the  council.  We  liad  no  difficulty  in  securing 
the  renomination  of  Mr.  Randall  as  a  candidate  for  his  old  seat 
in  the  house  of  representatives,  but  failed  in  the  nomination 
of  Mr.  Eli  Pettijohn,  of  Fort  Snelling,  who  was  in  favor  of  the 
movement  :  James  Mc  Boal,  of  Mendota,  being  the  successful 
candidate.  The  latter  had  moved  from  St.  Paul  to  Mendota, 
since  the  close  of  the  last  session  of  the  legislature,  having 
occupied  a  seat  in  the  council  from  that  city  during  the  two 
previous  sessions.  As  a  nomination  was  equal  to  an  election, 
Messrs.  Randall  and  Boal  were  the  members  of  the  house 
for  the  session  of  1852. 

A  strong  movement  was  made  against  us,  perhaps  by  a 
majority  of  the  people  of  the  district,  who  were  in  favor  of 
changing  the  boundaries  of  Dakota  county  as  follows  :  com- 
mencing at  a  point  on  the  Mississippi  at  Oliver's  grove — now 
Hastings — following  up  the  channel  of  the  river  to  a  point 
opposite  the  junction  of  Coon  creek  with  the  river  ;  thence 
running  west  a  reasonable  distance,  thence  south,  crossing  the 
Minnesota  river  at  Oak  grove,  and  so  continuing  in  a  south- 
erly line  until  a  direct  line  west  of  Oliver's  grove  was  reached; 
thence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning.  This  would  make  a 
large  county,  and  fix  the  county-seat,  for  a  while  at  least,  at 
Mendota.  On  the  other  hand,  we  wanted  a  distinctly  new 
county,  with  the  boundaries  commencing  at  the  junction  of 
the  Minnesota  with  the  Mississippi,  then  following  up  the 
river  channel  to  Crow  river  ;  thence  following  Crow  river  up 
to  the  forks,  of  said  stream  ;  thence  south  to  Jjittle  rapids  ; 
thence  down  the  river  to  the  place  of  beginning.  This  would 
make  a  good  sized  county,  which  would  contain  plenty  of 
prairie,  wood-land,  oak-openings,  and  meadow-land,  with  a 
pretty  sure  prospect  of  the  county-seat  remaining  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  It  had  become  very  evi- 
dent that  if  we  expected  to  secure  the  passage  of  such  a  bill, 
it  must  be  put  through  at  the  approaching  session,  or  post- 
poned for  several  years,  as  the  opposition  to  the  movement 
was  becoming  stronger  every  day.  We  could  hardly  expect 
the  cordial  support  of  representatives  from  the  larger  towns 
in  the  territory,  because  they  were  fearful  the  embryo  village 
might  be  a  rival  to  their  interests. 

The  legislature  met  in  St.  Paul,  for  the  session  of  1852,  on 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  133 

the  7th  of  January.  The  council  was  composed  of  nine  mem- 
bers, tlie  house  of  eighteen.  Since  the  election  the  previous 
fall,  we  had  been  hard  at  work  visiting,  soliciting  and  imjjor- 
tuning  many  of  the  new  members,  that  when  the  proper  time 
came  they  niiglit  aid  us  with  their  votes.  While  the  council 
and  house  ct)utained  but  few  members  in  each  liody,  their 
homes  were  scattered  from  Pembina  to  Reed's  landing  ;  so  a 
good  deal  of  work  had  to  be  done  after  the  session  opened. 
A  lively  light  was  made,  and  won.  I  had  been  required 
to  draw  up  the  bill  just  as  Ave  wanted  it,  and  hand  it 
to  Martin  McL(H)d,  who  would  present  it  to  the  council  for 
their  consideration.  In  the  bill  I  had  called  the  county 
Snelliug,  in  honor  of  the  army  officer  who  built  Fort  Snelling, 
but  that  name  was  stricken  out  by  the  council  and  Hennepin 
inserted  instead.  Otherwise  the  bill  passed  just  as  it  was 
drawn,  including  the  important  provision  that  the  first  board 
of  county  commissioners  should  name  the  county-seat.  It 
was  a  close  shave,  for  the  bill  only  passed  the  last  working 
day  of  the  session,  and  then  only  by  a  bare  majority.  It  was 
my  first  and  last  experience  in  lobbying  in  a  legislative  body. 
Aside  from  the  expense,  anxiety  and  suspense,  during  the 
pendency  of  the  bill,  a  lobbyist  is  liable  to  lose  his  self- 
respect.  But  the  passage  of  the  bill  was  everything  to  us, 
and  to  those  who  should  follow  us.  The  very  idea  of  being 
obliged  to  cross  the  prairie  and  the  Minnesota  river,  nine 
miles  to  Mendota,  for  county  business,  such  as  to  get  a  deed 
recorded,  and  the  like,  was  not  to  be  thought  of  for  a  moment. 

It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  the  boundaries  of  the 
county  could  not  have  been  suffered  to  remain  as  they  were, 
but  on  February  20,  1855,  a  large  part  of  Carver  county  was 
cut  out  of  Hennepin  county  by  legislative  enactment,  and 
Chaska  was  selected  as  the  county-seat  of  the  new  county. 

During  the  fall  of  1851  o\ir  side  of  the  river  received  a  val- 
uable addition  in  the  person  of  Allen  Harmon  who,  with  his 
family  came  from  Maine.  He  was  a  man  of  great  worth,  and 
we  were  i)leased  to  have  him  for  a  neighbor,  though  not  a 
very  near  one,  as  his  claim  was  back  some  distance  from  the 
river.  He  continually  resided  on  it,  from  a  few  days  after  the 
connnanding  officer  at  the  Fort  granted  him  jjermission  to 
take  it,  until  his  death  some  five  years  ago.     He  had  laid  it  all 


134  PERSONAL    KECOLLECTIONS 

out  into  building-lots,  wliicli  have  long  since  been  occupied 
by  residences.  The  First  Baptist  churcli  building,  the  new 
Athenaeum  library,  and  many  other  beautiful  and  costly  build- 
ings, public  and  ijrivate,  have  been  erected  on  Mr.  Harmon's 
old  claim.  This  was  the  last  claim  made  in  1851,  on  the  mil- 
itary reservation  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  except  the  one 
made  by  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  and  he' did  not  move  on  it  until  the 
next  sjjring. 

Dr.  Ames  arrived  from  Roscoe,  Illinois,  on  the  11th  day  of 
October.  He  was  at  the  time  one  of  the  state  senators  from 
Illinois.  He  came  up  on  a  prospecting  tour,  and  was  so  well- 
pleased  with  the  country  that  he  concluded  to  remain  here. 
On  the  14th  of  October  he  made  an  arrangement'  with  Colonel 
Anderson  D.  Nelson,  U.  S.  A.,  then  a  second-lieutenant  at 
Fort  Snelling,  to  make  the  selection  of  a  quarter-section  of 
land  and  occupy  it.  Dr.  Ames  selected  the  land  which  now 
includes  the  court-house  and  jail.  His  first  house  was  built 
on  the  same  block  which  the  county  buildings  now  occupy. 
The  land  was  then  densely  covered  with  prickly-pear,  hazel- 
brush,  and  other  shrubbery,  which  made  a  considerable  part 
of  it  almost  impassable.  Dr.  Ames  resided  in  St.  Anthony, 
and  practiced  medicine  with  Dr.  Murphy,  until  the  arrival  of 
his  family  in  the  spring  of  1852,  when  he  immediately  moved 
on  his  claim. 

Great  preparations  had  been  made  during  the  summer  and 
fall  by  the  lumbermen  for  active  operations  in  the  woods  the 
coming  winter  of  1851  and  1852.  The  work  was  mostly  con- 
fined to  the  two  branches  of  Rum  river.  In  addition  to  the 
mills  at  St.  Anthony,  steam  saw-mills  had  been  built  at  St. 
Paul,  and  at  several  other  points  down  the  river.  There  was 
every  prospect  in  the  fall  of  1851  that  there  would  be  a  large 
local  demand  for  logs  in  the  spring  of  1852.  Among  the 
lumbermen  who  had  teams  in  the  woods  in  the  winter,  from 
St.  Anthony,  were  Messrs.  Farnham,  Stimson,  Stant-hfield, 
Huse,  Chambers,  Pratt,  Stevens,  Lennon,  Leonard  Day  and 
sons,  Fdgar  Folsoni,  and  Stephen  Cobb  ;  from  St.  Paul, 
Robert  O'Neill.  Large  cpiantities  of  supplies  for  lumbermen 
had  heen  jnirchased  in  the  lower  country,  during  the  fall,  and 
transported  up  the  river  before  the  close  of  navigation.  As 
the  banks  of  the  two  branches  of  Rum  river  were  swarming 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  135 

with  men,  it  noccssarily  roquired  a  lar^o  amount  of  provis- 
ions. Employment  was  given  to  all  the  teamsters  in  the 
country  to  haul  these  supplies  from  St.  Anthony  and  St.  Paul 
to  the  pineries.  It  retpiired  about  a  week  to  make  the  round 
trip.  The  head  tote-teamster  so  called,  was  OtisC.  Whitney, 
who  had  similar  experience  in  Maine.  He  followed  teaming 
for  several  years  aroimd  the  Falls,  when  he  emigrated  to 
Montana,  early  in  the  sixties,  and  is  now  one  of  the  cattle- 
kings  of  that  territory.  These  tote-teams  had  a  liard,  cold 
time  of  it  during  these  early  years  of  lumber  ojx^rations  in 
the  territory.  They  were  required  to  be  on  the  road  every 
day,  as  it  was  necessary  that  the  camps  should  be  supplied 
with  provisions.  They  had,  most  of  the  way,  poor  accommo- 
dations, freqiieutly  being  obliged  to  camp  out  in  the  coldest 
of  weather.  Elk  river  was  the  only  place  where  good,  warm, 
comfortable  quarters  could  be  obtained,  Pierre  Bottineau,  of 
St.  Anthony,  having  built  a  large  hotel  there  the  previous 
year.  These  teamsters  were,  as  they  should  have  been,  paid 
liberal  wages. 

Continuing  the  list  of  those  who  became  early  residents  on 
the  military  reservation  opposite  St.  Anthony,  we  mention 
Edward  Murphy,  who  came  from  Quincy,  Illinois,  to  St. 
•Anthony,  in  1850,  obtained  a  permit,  in  September,  to  occupy 
a  quarter-section  of  laud  down  the  rixev  adjoining  John  P. 
Miller's  claim,  but  he  did  not  take  possession  by  actual  resi- 
dence until  May,  1S52.  He  immediately  inq)r()ved  consider- 
able land  ;  had  one  field  especially  prepared  for  a  nursery  and 
orchard  which,  in  due  time,  at  great  expense,  was  occupied  as 
such,  but  the  fruit-trees,  and  nursery-stock  jjcrished  from 
some  unaccountable  reason,  and  after  a  few  years  he  aban- 
doned trying  to  raise  apples  aiid  the  larger  fruit  raised  in  his 
Illinois  home.  Mr.  Murphy  was  the  pioneer  in  the  nursery 
business  in  this  state,  and  like  many  others  who  subsequently 
engaged  in  the  same  enterprise,  lost  all  the  money  emi)loyed 
in  the  undertaking,  besides  the  work  in  caring  for  the  trees, 
and  the  use  of  the  land. 

Anson  Northru])  made  a  claim  immediately  up  the  river, 
above  the  Smith  or  old-mill  claim,  of  a  fractional  lot  contain- 
ing a  few  acres.  He  was  a  partial  resident  on  it  from  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1851,  to  June,  1852  ;  from  that  time  he  resicled  on 


136  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

it  constantly  until  lie  i:)re-empted  it  in  1853.  This  claim 
includes  the  present  depot  and  yards  of  the  Milwaukee  rail- 
road- Mr.  Northrup  built  a  large  house,  in  which  the  United 
States  courts  were  held.  When  Hennepin  Lodge  of '  Free 
Masons  received  its  dispensation  its  sessions  were  held  in  the 
house.  Mr.  Northrup  also  erected  a  smaller  house  near  the 
site  of  the  present  woolen-factory  storehouse.  In  this  build- 
ing the  first  public-school  was  held,  commencing  December 
3,  1852.  The  teacher  was  Miss  Mary  E.  Miller,  now  Mrs. 
Marshall  Robinson.  In  this  building  Rev.  J.  C.  Whitney 
was  installed  pastor  of  the  first  Presbyterian  church,  in  June, 
1853,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Chester  of  Buffalo,  New  York.  There 
were  present  on  that  memorable  occasion  other  distinguished 
divines  of  the  Presbyterian  order,  such  as  Rev.  Dr.  Hopkins, 
professor  of  Auburn  Theological  Seminary  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Fowler, 
Utica ;  Rev.  Mr.  Spencer,  Milwaukee  ;  besides  our  home 
members.  Rev.  Gideon  H.  Pond,  Oak  Grove ;  Rev.  E.  D. 
Neill,  St.  Paul ;  with  two  elders,  Governor  William  Holcomb 
of  Stillwater,  and  Dr.  Alfred  E.  Ames  of  Minneapolis.  Dr. 
Ames,  Daniel  M.  Coolbaugh,  and  E.  N.  Barber,  were  elected 
elders. 

Philip  Bassett,  in  May,  1852,  made  a  claim  to  the  part  of 
the  city  knowai  as  Hoag's  addition  to  Minneapolis.  He  only, 
had  it  for  a  few  weeks  when,  June  10th  the  same  year,  he  sold 
it  for  one  hundred  dollars  to  Charles  Hoag.  Messrs.  Bassett 
and  Hoag  were  born  in  the  same  town  in  New  Hampshire, 
and  were  school-boys  together.  Mr.  Bassett  went  to  Califor- 
nia, and  Mr.  Hoag  opened  a  farm  on  the  claim,  which  con- 
tained one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  now  in  the  very  heart  of 
the  city  ;  the  West  hotel  being  built  on  it.  Previous  to  com- 
ing to  the  territory,  Mr.  Hoag  had  been,  for  a  long  time, 
principal  in  one  of  the  Philadelphia  high  schools,  but  having 
been  raised  on  a  farm,  and  more  or  less  connected  with  farm- 
ing while  teaching,  he  made  a  successful  farmer.  Few  of  the 
present  generation  are  aware  that  this  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  laud  were  at  one  time  sold  for  the  pitiful  sum  of  one 
hundred  dollars  :  hardly  the  price  now  for  an  inch  on  some 
of  the  lots  on  H('nne])in  avenue.  Mr.  Hoag  became  one  of 
the  most  useful  citizens  of  the  place. 

Previous  to  Mr.  Hoag's  purchase,  Joel  B.  Bassett,  a  brother 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  137 

of  Philip,  took  up  a  quajtpr-soction  above  the  creek  that 
bears  his  name,  and  immediately  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 
Having  jx'rfeoted  his  arrangements  in  the  fall  of  1851,  in 
regard  to  it,  at  Fort  Riiclling,  he  moved  on  it  in  May,  1852, 
and  for  several  years,  and  in  fact  until  it  became  too  valuable 
for  that  purpose,  occuj)ied  it  exclusively  for  farming.  He 
was  as  good  a  farmer  as  he  has  since  proved  to  be  a  lumber- 
man and  business  man. 

AN    EARLY    LAWSUIT   AND   JURY-TRIAL. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Bassett  made  his  claim,  David  Bickford  and 
Isaac  Ives  Lewis  discovered  a  few  fractional  lots  between  the 
boundaries  of  Mr.  Hoag's  and  Mr.  Bassett's  land,  which  they 
insisted  were  not  covered  by  the  permits  of  either  of  the  above- 
named  gentlemen,  and  immediately  occupied  the  disputed 
territory  by  building  a  house  on  the  present  site  of  Thomas 
Lowry's  office.  Second  street  and  Third  avenue  north,  and 
in  spite  of  a  lawsuit,  and  against  the  command  of  the  officers 
at  Fort  Suelliug,  succeeded  in  pre-empting  it  in  April,  1855. 
At  that  period  there  was  an  im})ortant  law  in  the  territory  for 
the  protection  of  squatters  on  government  land  under  a  chap- 
ter entitled  "  forcible  entry  and  detainer".  In  pursuance  of 
the  provisions  of  this  law,  a  suit  was  brought  against  Mr. 
Bickford,  after  the  organization  of  the  county,  before  Justice 
Hedderly.  A  jury  was  called,  and  after  a  tedious  trial  of 
several  days,  the  case  was  submitted  to  the  jury.  There  being 
no  room  in-doors  where  the  court  was  held,  the  jury  was 
obliged  to  retire  outside  to  deliberate  on  the  merits  of  the 
case.  It  being  in  mid-winter,  of  course  the  weather  was  cold, 
and  the  jury  suffered  from  the  low  temperature.  There  was 
not  miich  comfort  in  discussing  the  evidence  with  the  mercury 
pretty  near  zero,  and  the  wind  coming  down  fn)m  the  north 
at  the  rate  of  abimt  forty  knots,  which  almost  ccnigealed  the 
breath  as  each  of  the  members  of  the  jury  endeavored  to 
ex})lain  to  the  others  the  way  in  which  he  understood  the 
evidence.  After  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  agive  upon  a  ver- 
dict, one  of  the  jury  declared  he  had  been  out  in  the  cold  long 
enough  ;  he  would  not  be  frozen  into  a  verdict  contrary  to 
his  understanding  of  the  matter  ;  and  although  he  was  alone 


138  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

in  his  opinion  as  to  the  merits  of  the  case,  and  as  to  the 
proper  verdict  they  should  render,  he  would  not  return  with 
them  to  the  justice's  office,  but  would  immediately  leave  them 
to  solve  the  question  by  themselves,  and  return  such  a  verdict 
as  they  had  a  mind  to.  He  then  made  a  bee-line  at  as  rapid 
a  pace  as  his  half-frozen  limbs  would  permit  to  his  shanty- 
home  across  the  prairie,  leaving  the  other  jurors  in  a  state  of 
astonishment.  They  immediately  reported  progress  and  the 
fact  of  the  elopement  of  one  of  their  number,  to  Justice  Hed- 
derly,  and  although  Judge  Atwater,  the  plaintiff's  attorney, 
demanded  a  writ  of  attachment  to  be  issued  by  the  court 
against  the  delinquent  juror  for  contempt  of  court,  and  that 
it  be  given  to  Sheriff  Brown  for  service,  the  justice  denied 
the  motion,  and  a  record  of  disagreement  by  the  jury  was 
entered  in  the  case. 

This  was  the  first  jury-trial  in  any  justice  court  in  Hen- 
nepin county,  and  the  ending  of  it  was  so  ludicrous,  and  so 
different  from  what  the  plaintiff  had  been  familiar  with  in 
conducting  cases  in  the  courts  in  his  New  England  home, 
that  he  never  had  the  courage  to  move  for  a  new  trial.  He 
obtained  a  slight  satisfaction  in  an  encounter  with  the  tres- 
passer, in  a  snow-drift  on  the  disputed  claim,  not  long  after 
the  farce  of  the  trial. 

Some  of  these  lawsuits  on  the  frontier  were  conducted  in  a 
queer  way,  before  justices  of  the  peace  ;  but  no  one  could 
find  fault  with  the  first  two  justices,  Hedderly  and  Fletcher. 
They  4^ere  honest,  just,  able  men,  and  conducted  all  trials 
brought  before  them  in  an  impartial,  i)roper  manner  ;  but 
there  were  no  conveniences  for  holding  courts  in  those  days  ; 
and  then  the  litigants,  lawyers,  and  jurors,  were  all  strangers 
to  each  others. 

Mr.  Lewis,  who  was  interested  with  Mr.  Bickford  in  the 
claim,  remained  in  St.  Anthony  until  1854,  when  he  removed 
to  Minneapolis  and  built  a  large  store  and  dwelling  on  the  lots 
now  occupied  as  a  market  by  Harlow  A.  Gale.  In  the  fall  of 
that  year  he  filled  his  store  with  goods,  and  occupied  the 
dwelling  with  his  family. 

Mr.  Bassett  was  our  first  judge  of  probate,  a  member  of  the 
legislature,  Chippewa  agent,  and  occiipied  other  high  trusts  in 
the  gift  of  the  people,  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner.     He  is 


OF    MINNKSOTA   AND    ITS    l"£Ol'LE.  139 

always  a  friend  of  the  city  and  the  county.  Mr.  Bickford  sold 
out  his  interest  in  city  proi)erty  to  Judge  Beebe,  many  years 
since,  and  removed  to  Yineland,  New  Jersey. 

Mr.  Lewis  for  a  ](mgtime  transacted  a  large  mercantile  and 
general  business  in  Minneai)olis,  which  he  chwed  out  in 
1859,  and  transferred  his  home  to  Watertown,  in  Carver 
county  where,  in  (•omi)any  with  his  brother  E.  F.  Lewis,  he 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  built  a  tiour-mill,  and 
l)ot  and  pearl  aslicry.  At  one  time  he  was  a  member  of  the 
legislature  from  C'fuver  county.  He  is  now  a  resident  of 
Idaho,  and  president  of  one  of  the  national  l)anks  in  one  of 
the  most  i)rosi)erous  cities  of  that  territory. 

There  was  up  to  this  time  several  other  valuable  claims  on 
the  military  reservntion  that  had  not  been  taken,  and  as  the 
commanding  officer  at  Fort  Snelling  had  seemingly  become 
indifferent  to  their  occupation,  people  flocked  from  different 
l)arts  of  the  territory  to  take  them.  Claim-houses  dotted  the 
])rairie  between  the  town  and  Lake  Calhoun.  A  change  in 
the  commanding  officer,  just  as  the  houses  were  completed, 
made  a  change  in  the  management  of  the  reservation.  All 
who  did  not  have  permits,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  were 
ordered  to  leave  the  reservation  and  remove  their  buildings 
and  lumber.  The  order  was  obeyed,  but  it  was  an  unjust  one, 
and  caused  great  injury  to  the  squatters,  though  eventually 
a  good  many  of  them,  after  congress  i)assed  the  bill  reducing 
the  reservation,  held  on  to  the  boundaries  of  the  land  they 
had  made  previously,  and  obtained  it  from  the  government. 


CHAPTEK  XXIII. 

CLAIMS  MADE  AFTER  THE  TRAVERSE  DES  SIOUX  TREATY  OF  1851. 

The  Traverse  des  Sioux  Treaty  with  the  Indians  having- 
been  perfected,  persons  seeking  homes  made  haste  to  get  hold 
of  the  best  locations  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Falls.  Col. 
Emanuel  Case  arrived  in  the  spring  of  1851  and  opened  a  store 
in  St.  Anthony,  in  connection  with  his  son,  Sweet  W.  Case. 
They  came  from  Michigan.  Colonel  Case  surveyed  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  immediately  north  of  Mr.  Bassett's, 
on  the  river,  and  filed  a  claim  on  it,  Peter  Poncin,  a  pioneer 
merchant  of  Stillwater,  wanted  the  same  land.  He  had  taken 
out  a  permit  to  trade  with  the  Indians,  built  and  opened  a 
store,  but  as»the  Indians  had  left,  he  had  no  customers.  The 
dispute  w^as  settled  at  the  government  land-office,  and  Colonel 
Case  was  the  winner.  In  March,  1852,  he  was  greatly  afflicted 
by  the  loss  of  his  youngest  son,  James  Gale  Case,  nearly  twenty- 
one  years  old.  The  young  man  fell  through  a  watering-place 
cut  in  the  ice,  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  was 
drowned.  This  was  the  second  death  on  this  side  of  the  river. 
Colonel  Case  had  interested  with  him  Alexander  Moore,  also 
from  Michigan.  A  good  part  of  the  land  was  under  cultivation 
for  several  years  when,  in  1855,  it  was  laid  out  into  lots  and 
known  as  a  part  of  Bassett,  Case  and  Moore's  addition  to  the 
village  of  Minneapolis.  Moore  idtimately  became  a  mer- 
chant in  Minneapolis,  and  transacted  a  large  business,  and 
contributed,  as  Colonel  Case  did,  largely  in  building  up  the  city, 
in  its  early  days.  Mr.  Moore  moved  to  Sauk  Center,  in  Stearns 
county,  many  years  since,  and  has  represented  that  county  in 
several  sessions  of  the  legislature.     Colonel  Case  frequently 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  1-11 

held  high  trusts,  and  died,  greatly  regretted,  in  tlie  snmnior 
of  1871. 

In  1851,  thnmgh  an  arrangement  with  the  Indian  agent, 
Joseph  Menard  occupied  laud  near  that  of  Colonel  Case.  After 
the  treaty  he  came  in  possession  of  it,  and  the  tract  is  now- 
known  as  Menard's  addition  to  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Menard  is 
still  a  resident  of  the  city. 

Charles  W.  Christmas  followed  Mr.  Menard  on  the  Indian 
lands,  securing  a  valunbh'  claim  in  the  fall  of  1851,  which  he 
improved  in  1852.  He  laid  it  out  into  lots  as  Christmas's 
addition  to  Minneapolis.  His  son-iu  law,  Isaac  I.  Lewis,  and 
nephew,  Ca])tnin  J.  C.  Reno,  hecame  interested  in  it  with  him. 
Mr.  Christmas  was  the  father  of  a  large  family.  His  wife  and 
many  of  his  children  preceded  him  to  the  spirit-land.  The 
tliree  claims  of  Colonel  Case,  Menard,  and  Christmas,  were 
the  first  made  on  the  Indian  lands  in  this  vicinity. 

A  few  more  permits  were  granted  in  1852  by  the  new  com- 
manding officer  at  Fort  Snelling.  Martin  Layman  came  from 
Illinois  and  located  on  the  land,  a  part  of  which  is  now  known 
as  Layman's  cemetery.  When  surveyed  by  the  government, 
it  proved  to  he  included  in  a  school  section.  In  1858,  after 
the  admission  of  Minnesota  as  a  state,  our  senators,  Henry  M. 
Rice  and  General  James  Shields,  and  our  members  in  the  lower 
house  of  congress,  James  M.  Cavanaugh,  and  Wm.  W.  Phelps, 
obtained  the  passage  of  a  bill  by  congress  granting  Mr.  Lay- 
man the  privilege  of  entering  the  land  in  the  same  way  that 
other  lands  are  secured  to  settlers.  This  was  on  the  ground 
that  Mr.  Layman  had  settled  on  them  previous  to  the  survey, 
and  that  settlers  were  not  supposed  to  know  that  the  sections 
sixteen  and  thirty-six  on  the  military  reservation  were  to  be 
set  apart  for  school  purposes.  The  state  was  authorized,  by 
the  bill  that  passed  congress,  to  make  selection  of  other 
government  lands  in  the  place  of  those  claimed  by  Mr. 
Layman. 

Waterman  Stinson  came  from  Maine  to  St.  Anthony. 
Being  a  farmer  in  his  native  state,  he  was  desirous  of  securing 
a  good  farm  in  Minnesota.  Most  of  the  immigrants  to  the 
Falls  from  Maine  had  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  ; 
hence  they  followed  that  business  here,  and  when  a  farmer 
from  that  state  made  his  appearance,  we  were  all  anxious  to 


142  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

see  that  lie  was  well  settled.  Mr.  Stinson  was  the  father  of 
numerous  girls  and  boys  of  industrious  habits,  capable  of 
working  a  large  farm,  and  not  having  the  least  knowledge  of 
speculation,  he  wanted  a  home  in  the  country  ;  so  he  was 
placed  on  the  bank  of  Bassett's  creek,  where  there  was  not 
the  least  prospect  that  he  would  ever  be  disturbed  by  the 
extension  of  the  village  into  his  neighborhood.  In  addition 
to  his  children,  he  had  his  aged  parents  to  support.  He 
opened  a  large  field  for  grain.  His  natural  hay-meadows  on 
the  creek  were  extensive  and  productive.  His  son-in-law, 
Mr.  Brennan,  made  a  claim,  at  the  same  time,  adjoining  him, 
which  in  after  years  became  the  property  of  Franklin  Steele. 
Mr.  Stinson  could  not  turn  the  tide  of  the  expansion  of  the 
city,  which  soon  swallowed  up  his  farm,  and  is  now  known  as 
Stinson' s  addition  to  Minneapolis.  He  died  several  years 
since. 

Judge  Isaac  Atwater,  in  June  1851,  became  interested  in 
the  military  reservation,  only  for  a  day,  when  he  sold  out  for 
ten  dollars.  He  afterwards  owned  a  large  share  of  the  Miller 
claim. 

John  George  Lennon  obtained  permission  to  occupy  the 
land  adjoining  Mr,  Layman's,  which  is  included  in  J.  G. 
Lennon's  out-lots  addition  to  the  city.  Captain  Benjamin  B. 
Parker  was  fortunate  in  securing  a  quarter-section  of  land 
east  of  Mr.  Layman's,  which  is  absorbed  by  his  son's,  the 
Parkers'  addition  to  Minneapolis.  Sweet  W.  Case  came  in  for 
a  quarter-section,  as  did  Chandler  Hutchins,  back  of  Mr. 
Lennon's.  Mr.  Case  purchased  the  Hutchins  pre-emption. 
Mr.  Case's  original  farm  is  Lawrence  and  Reeve's  addition  to 
the  city.  While  occupied  by  Mr.  Case  those  claims  were 
greatly  improved,  most  of  the  whole  breadth  of  the  half- 
section  being  under  cultivation.  Mr.  Hutchins's  old  claim 
is  included  in  Chicago,  Lake  Park,  and  several  other  addi- 
tions. Edgar  Folsom,  through  the  good  will  of  tlie  military 
authorities,  came  in  possession  of  a  quarter-section  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Mr.  Parkers,  which  eventually  became  the 
home  of  Nathan  Roberts,  and  is  now  included  in  Newell, 
Carr  and  Baldwin's  addition  to  the  city. 

Mrs.  Judith  Ann  Sayer,  a  widow  lady  from  New  York, 
occupied  a  claim   near  Mr.  Case's,  which   is   now   Euctis's 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  143 

addition  to  Miimeapolis.  About  this  time  Mrs.  Sayer  sold 
her  chiiin  and  married  AVilliam  Dickie  of  Lake  Harriet. 

Mr.  Eolu'rt  lilaisdcll  and  his  tliree  sons,  Joln'i  T.,  William, 
and  llobert,  Jr.,  became  the  owners  of  claims,  all  now  known, 
as  follows  :  Eobert  Blaisdell,  senior,  Flour  City  addition  to 
MinncMpolis  ;  John  T.  ]51ais(lell  pre-emption,  John  T.  Blais- 
dell's  addition  to  the  city  ;  William  Blaisdell's  land,  Bloom- 
ington  addition  to  the  city  ;  and  Robert  Blaisdell,  Jr.'s  old 
farm  is  now  Tjindsley  and  Linii^erfelter't?  addition.  John  S. 
Mann,  William  Dickie,  Eli  Pettijohn,  L.  N.  Parker,  Henry 
Angell,  and  Henry  Heap,  occupied  beautiful  lands  on  the 
shores  of  and  near  Lakes  (^dhoun  and  Harriet,  which  are  in 
the  several  Remington  additions  to  the  city.  James  A. 
Lennon,  and  Deacon  Oliver,  had  claims  near  them  ;  the  lat- 
ter is  now  Oliver's  Park  addition  :  the  former  is  in  the  Rem- 
ington addition.  Charles  Moseau's  old  claim,  the  site  of  the 
former  Dakota  chieftain's  residence,  is  now  the  beautiful 
grounds  of  Lake  wood  cemetery. 

Edmond  Bresette  occupied  the  east  shore  of  Lake  Calhoun, 
but,  by  a  special  act  of  congress.  Rev.  Dr.  E.  G.  Gear  became 
the  j)roprietor,  and  it  is  now  included  mostly  in  Calhoun 
Park.  George  E.  Huey  had  the  claim  §ast  of  Dr.  E.  G. 
Gear's,  which  is  in  one  of  the  Remington  additions  ;  and 
David  Gorham  had  the  claim  north  bordering  on  Lake  of 
the  Isles,  which  he  sold  to  R.  P.  Russell,  who  has  made  out 
of  it  several  additions  to  the  city  ;  and  George  Park's  claim 
east  of  the  Isles,  wiiicli  is  now  Lake  of  the  Isles  addition,  and 
N.  E.  Stoddard  pre-empted  the  adjoining  claim  ;  then  John 
Green  made  a  claim,  a  portion  of  which  land  is  called  Lake 
View  addition.  Z.  M.  Brown  and  Hill  made  the  next  claims, 
which  comprise  the  present  Groveland  addition.  Dennis 
Peter's  claim  is  known  as  Sunnyside  addition. 

William  Worthingham's  old  claim  became  the  j)ropei'ty  of 
John  C.  Oswald,  and  it  now  bears  the  novel  name  of  Bryn 
Mawr  addition.  A  little  further  out  William  Byrnes  made  a 
beautiful  home,  and  was  elected  sheriff  of  Hennepin  comity, 
but  died  before  his  term  of  office  expired.  This  old  home- 
stead of  Sheriff  Byrnes  is  now  Maben,  White  and  Le  Bron's 
addition  to  the  city  ;  while  James  Byrne's  land  is  included  in 
the  Oak  Park  addition. 


144  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

There  were  several  other  claims  made  in  1852  and  1853  in 
what  may  now,  perhaps,  be  classed  as  north  Minneapolis  ; 
some  on  the  military  lands  ;  others  on  the  ceded  Indian 
lands.  Among  them  were  those  of  Charles  Farrington  ;  Eli- 
jah Austin's,  now  Sherburne  and  Beebe's  addition  ;  F.  X. 
Crepau's,  now  Crepau's  addition  ;  Stephen  and  Eufus  Pratt 
both  laid  out  their  claims  in  city  lots,  one  Stephen  Pratt's 
and  the  other  Rufus  Pratt's  addition.  The  beautiful  Oak 
Lake  addition  is  mostly  on  the  pre-emption  of  Thomas  Stin- 
son.  Central  Park  is  on  the  original  land  of  Joseph  S.  John- 
son. Asa  Fletcher  and  his  brother  Timothy  owned  the  land 
out  on  Portland  and  Park  avenues,  now  Merriam  and  Lowry's 
addition,  while  William  Goodwin  owned  what  is  now  the 
Evergreen  addition.  Bristol's  old  claim  was  j^re-empted  by 
Jackson,  and  is  now  known  as  Jackson,  Daniels  and  AYhitney's 
and  Snyder  and  Company's  additions.  H.  H.  Shepley's  claim 
is  divided  among  several  additions,  Viola  included- 

In  the  more  southerly  portion  of  the  city  Andrew  J.  Foster 
and  Charles  Gilpatrick  had  valuable  farms,  which  are  now 
included  in  the  additions  that  bear  their  names.  Deacon 
Sully's  old  claim  is  now  on  the  map  as  Sully  and  Murphy's 
subdivision.  The  Qriginal  Falls  City  farm  of  Henry  Keith, 
made  in  1852,  is  now  owned  by  Judge  Atwater  and  Judge 
C.  E.  Flandreau,  which  is  a  part  of  Falls  City  and  Eiverside 
Short-Line  addition,  and  Dorwin  Moulton's  claim  is  Dorman's 
addition  to  the  city.  William  G.  Murphy's  pre-emption  is 
composed  in  part  of  Cook's  Eiverside  addition,  and  Alfred 
Murphy's  claim  is  included  in  the  Fair-Ground  addition. 
Hiram  Burlingham's  farm  is  included  in  Morrison  and  Love- 
joy's  addition.  Simeon  Odell's  old  home  is  now  Palmer's 
addition,  and  E.  A.  Hoclsdon's  farm  is  the  Southside  addition 
to  the  city.  Captain  Arthur  H.  Mills's  and  J.  Draper's  claims 
were  where  the  residence  of  Hon.  D.  Morrison  is  now. 
Galpin's  and  other  additions  are  also  portions  of  their  old 
homes.  Charles  Brown's  and  Frank  Eollin's  claims  are 
Eollin's  Second  addition,  and  Simon  Bean's  farm  is  Minnehaha 
Driving  Park.  John  AVass's  farm  is  a  portion  of  Wass's 
addition.  Ard  Godfrey's  old  home  has  been  transferred  to 
the  Soldiers'  Home,  and  Amasa  Craft's  farm  is  Munroe 
Brother's  addition.     Hiram   Van  Nest's  homestead  is  Van 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  145 

Nest's  addition.  AVilliani  G.  MoflPett's  claim  is  lujw  Minne- 
haha Park.  Philander  Prescott's  claim  is  known  as  Annie  E. 
Steele's  out-lots  addition. 

Amon<i^  the  ori<^inal  settlers  wlio  occupied  claims  in  1851 
and  1852,  and  whose  old  homes  are  not  laid  out  into  city 
lots,  are  those  of  Colonel  8.  Woods,  William  Finch, 
Samuel  Stough,  S.  S.  Crowell,  Mark  Baldwin,  "William 
Hanson,  J.  J.  Dinsmore,  Willis  G.  Moffett,  Chris  Garvey, 
H.  S.  Atwood,  Thomas  Pierce,  and  Titus  Pettijohn.  I  think 
Messrs.  Pierce,  AVilliam  G.  Motfett,  the  Blaisdell  Brothers, 
and  Christopher  C.  Garvey  are  about  the  only  ones  who 
now  own  any  considerable  portion  of  those  original  pre- 
emptions. The  entries  made  by  A.  K.  Hartwell  and  Calvin 
Church,  in  the  near  vicinity  9f  the  Falls,  are  included  in  the 
original  town-plat  of  Minneapolis.  Among  those  who  were 
residents  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  in  the  fall  of  1850,  were 
Simon  Stevens,  Henry  and  Thomas  Chambers,  and  Horace 
Webster.  They  made  claims  elsewhere.  Levi  Smith,  Edward 
Smith,  Major  A.  M.  Fridley,  P.  P.  Russell,  and  George  E. 
Huey,  became  interested  with  Robert  Smith  in  the  govem- 
eniment  mill-property  early  in  1851.  Levi  Smith  was  a 
brother-in-law  of  Judge  A.  G.  Chatlield.  He  never  resided 
here.  He  was  the  first  register  of  the  U.  S.  land-office  at 
Winona.  His  brother  Edward  Smith  only  remained  a  year 
here.  He  married  a  sister  of  Governor  Burns,  of  Wisconsin, 
and  moved  to  the  Pacific  coast. 

AVliile  the  foregoing  may  not  be  a  full  list  of  the  original 
owners  of  the  soil  in  this  neighborhood,  I  think  it  as  correct 
as  possible  to  get  it  at  this  time.  George  A.  Camp  was  a 
resident  during  the  exciting  claim-making  on  the  west  side  of 
the  river,  but  he  never  made  a  claim.  He  was  a  member  of 
his  uncle  Anson  Northrup's  household.  William  Goodnow, 
a  carpenter,  who  built  Mr.  Northruj)'s  house,  also  resided 
here,  but  made  no  claim.  H(^  committed  suicide  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  winter  of  1852,  by  jumping  into  the  river  just 
above  the  Falls.  Goodnow  was  a  young  man,  an  excellent 
workman,  but  addicted  to  strong-drink,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  suffering  from  delirium-tremens.  This  was  the 
first  case  of  suicide  in  what  is  now  Minneapolis,  and  the  first 
victim  here  sufferintr  from  that  terrible  disease.     Gordon  and 


146  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

William  Jackins  were  members  of  their  brother  John  Jackiu's 
family.  They  were  interested  in  a  forty-acre  tract  of  land 
joining  Mrs.  Sayer's  claim.  The  younger  brother  William 
died  while  occupying  the  claim.  William  Hubbard,  a  lawyer 
from  Tennessee,  occuj^ied  a  claim  for  a  year  or  two,  but 
sold  it  and  removed  from  the  territory  before  the  land  came 
into  market.  John  Berry  lived  on  and  preempted  a  farm 
near  the  Lake  of  the  Isles,  which  is  now  within  the  city  limits. 

FIRST    MASONIC    LODGE    AT    ST.    ANTHONY    FALLS. 

Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  St.  Anthony,  in 
1851,  found  a  few  Freemasons,  and  called  a  meeting  of  such 
of  them  as  were  residents,  at  the  parlors  of  Mr.  Godfrey,  with 
a  view  of  establishing  a  lodge.  A  petition  for  a  dispensation 
was  sent  to  the  grand  lodge  of  Illinois.  The  petition  was 
granted,  and  on  the  14th  of  February,  at  the  same  parlors, 
Cataract  Lodge,  U.  D.,  was  organized.  A.  E.  Ames  was  Wor- 
shipful Master  ;  William  Smith,  senior  warden  ;  Isaac  Brown, 
junior  warden  ;  Ard  Godfrey,  treasurer  ;  John  H.  Stevens, 
secretary  ;  D.  M.  Coolbaugh,  senior  deacon  ;  H.  S.  Atwood, 
junior  deacon  ;  and  William  Bramer,  Tyler.  Colonel  E.  Case 
of  St.  Anthony,  and  Captain  J.  W.  T.  Gardiner  of  Fort  Snel- 
ling,  were  members. 

As  this  was  the  first  charitable  order  organized  in  this 
vicinity,  where  so  many  now  exist,  it  will  be  observed  that 
Cataract  Lodge  is  the  parent  of  all  similar  organizations  north 
of  St.  Paul.  Dr.  Ames,  the  master,  had  been  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois,  and  had  also  been  master  of  the 
lodge  at  Roscoe,  and  Belvidere,  in  the  same  state.  On  the 
organization  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Minnesota,  he  was  chosen 
Most  Worshijjf ul  Grand  Master,  and  in  later  years  held  high 
places  of  trusts  in  the  different  organizations  of  Freemasonry 
in  this  state. 

Colonel  William  Smith,  the  senior  warden,  was  a  native  of 
Maine,  had  been  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  state,  and  master 
of  his  lodge.  Isaac  Brown,  the  junior  warden,  was  also  a 
native  of  Maine,  and  was  a  past-master.  He  was  the  first 
sheriff  of  Hennepin  county.  Ard  Godfrey,  the  treasurer, 
also  a  native  of  Maine,  had  liel4  a  similar  office  in  a  lodge  on 
on  the  banks  of  the  Penobscot. 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  147 

John  H.  Stevens,  the  secretary,  was  initiated,  jjassed  and 
raised,  in  a  military,  travelinj^  lodge,  U.  D.,  from  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Tennessee,  during  the  winter  of  1848,  at  the  National 
Bridge,  in  Mexico.  The  dispensation  gave  the  officers  of  the 
lodge  permission  to  meet  on  high  hills,  or  low  \ales. 

The  senior  deacen,  D.  M.  Coolbangh,  was  made  a  Mason  in 
a  Pennsylvania  lodge.  On  the  organization  of  Hennepin 
lodge,  U.  D.,  two  years  after  the  organization  of  Cataract 
lodge,  he  was  selected  as  its  first  Master.  The  junior  deacon, 
H.  S.  Atwood,  was  initiated,  passed  and  raised,  in  a  lodge  in 
New  Brunswick.  His  wife  was  a  sister  of  Cahin  A.  Tuttle. 
The  Tyler,  "William  Bremer,  I  think,  was  made  a  Mason  in 
Pennsylvania.     He  had  a  farm  near  the  city. 

Colonel  E.  Case,  a  native  of  New  York,  was  made  a  Mason 
in  a  lodge  near  Rochester  in  that  state.  During  a  long  resi- 
dence in  Michigan  he  held  high  i)ositions  in  the  Order  in  that 
state,  and  was  for  a  long  time  treasurer  of  Blue  Lodges  in 
Hennepin  county,  and  the  first  Grand  Treasurer  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Minnesota.  Captain  J.  W.  T.  Gardiner  was  a  native 
of  Hallowell,  Maine,  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and  stationed, 
at  the  organization  of  Cataract  Lodge,  at  Fort  Snelling,  com- 
manding Company  D,  First  regiment  U.  S.  Dragoons;  He 
was  made  a  Mason  at  one  of  the  western  army  forts. 

The  first  who  presented  petitions  for  membership  of 
Cataract  Lodge  were  Isaac  Atwater,  John  George  Lennon, 
Anson  Northrup,  John  C.  Gaims,  John  H.  Murphy,  and 
Robert  W.  Chimmings.  These  gentlemen  were  the  first  to 
become  Masons  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

The  Grand  Master  of  Illinois,  to  whom  the  petition  was 
sent,  and  who  granted  the  dispensation  to  Cataract  Lodge, 
was  Judge  E.  B.  Ames,  long  since  a  resident  of  Minneapolis. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

SOME   OF   THE   OEIGINAL   OWNEES   OF   THE   SOIL   AT   THE  FALLS. 

A  large  majority  of  the  original  claimants  and  owners  of 
the  soil  on  the  military  reservation  and  Indian  lands  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  vrest  bank  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  have 
crossed  the  invisible,  silent  river,  and  preceded  iis  to  the 
unknown  land. 

Sheriff  Isaac  Brown  died  many  years  since.  Eli  Pettijohn, 
once  so  prominent  in  our  midst,  resides  in  California,  and  is 
said  to  be  a  hale,  hearty  old  man.  Deacon  Allen  Harmon 
lived  a  life  of  usefulness,  and  was  called  to  a  better  world 
some  seven  years  ago.  His  children  are  among  our  most 
respected  citizens.  Mr.  Harmon's  good  deeds  in  this  life  will 
ever  be  cherished  by  his  old  friends.  Anson  Northrujj  occu- 
pies a  prominent  place  in  the  history  of  Minnesota.  Warm- 
hearted, generous,  a  good  neighbor  and  firm  friend,  he  has 
reached  a  green  old  age,  meriting  the  esteem  of  not  only  the 
pioneers,  but  of  the  new  citizens  of  the  commonwealth.  Geo. 
W.  Tew  went  further  west  at  an  early  day,  and  died  a  few 
years  since. 

Edward  Murphy  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  citizen  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river.  No  one  was  more  public-spirited. 
He  firmly  believed  in  the  future  greatness  of  Minneapolis, 
and  freely  expended  money  to  develop  its  resources.  He  was 
at  the  head  in  securing  the  running  of  boats  up  the  river  to 
Minueajiolis.  His  death  was  greatly  regretted.  His  widow, 
and  his  two  children,  Ira  Murphy  of  this  city,  and  Mrs.  B. 
Armstrong  of  St.  Paul,  survive  him. 

Sweet  W.  Case  has  long  occupied  a  prominent  position  in 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  149 

the  community.  For  many  years  he  has  been  city  asseBSor. 
He  was  our  first  clerk  in  the  district  court.  He  still  resides 
in  Minneapolis.  Peter  Poncin  emigrated  to  the  Pacific  coast 
and  died  there  a  few  years  since.  Martin  Layman,  one  of 
our  most  cherished  pioneers,  lived  to  see  the  city  expand  all 
around  him.  A  portion  of  his  claim  wasjaid  out  into  a  cem- 
etery.    He  died  three  years  ago. 

Isaac  Atwater  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  the 
state.  For  many  years  he  occupied  a  seat  on  the  supreme 
bench  of  Minnesota.  A  graduate  of  old  Yale,  he  is  a  classic 
writer  and  ready  speaker.  As  a  lawyer  he  ranks  among  the 
foremost.  As  a  member  and  secretary  of  the  old  board  of 
regents  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  he  labored  long  and 
earnestly  in  the  interest  of  that  great  seat  of  learning.  Judge 
Atwater  has  occupied  many  high  positions  with  credit  to 
himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  community.  At  the  birth  of 
the  city  he  fortunately  consented  to  serve  as  one  of  its  alder- 
men. His  wise  couivje  in  the  council  tended  largely  to  shape 
the  course  of  those  cldennen  who  followed  him  in  the  adop- 
tion of  wholesome  ordinances  for  the  city  government.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  education.  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  our  fine  system  of  graded  schools. 
His  good  works  are  all  around  us,  and  he  is  still  vigorous  and 
useful. 

John  George  Lennon,  a  pioneer  merchant,  a  man  who  was 
always  alive  to  the  interests  of  the  city,  died  in  October,  1886, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  In  the  earlier  years  of  the 
occupation  of  this  section  of  the  state  by  the  whites,  Mr. 
Lennon  was  at  the  front  in  all  enterprises  for  the  good  of  the 
country,  and  was  especially  efficient  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony 
in  securing  immigration.  As  the  representative  of  the  Amer- 
ican Fur  Com})any  in  this  neighborhood,  he  was  influential 
in  the  community,  and  he  always  used  that  influence  for  the 
benefit  of  the  people.  He  was  a  son-in-law  of  Major  Nathan- 
iel McLean,  at  one  time  United  States  agent  at  Fort  Snelling 
for  the  Dakotas.  His  widow  and  an  only  son  have  their 
home  in  Minneapolis. 

Captain  Parker,  the  old  master  of  the  steamboat  Governor 
Ramsey,  after  he  moved  on  his  claim  adjoining  Mr.  Layman's, 
became  county  commissioner,  in  1872,  and  continued  in  office 


150  PERSONAL    IJECOLLECTIONS 

until  1875.  He  died  shortly  after  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  office.  Chandler  Hutchins  several  years  since  moved  into 
the  upi^er  portion  of  this  state,  where  he  still  resides.  Capt. 
John  C.  Reno  went  to  Ohio  in  1858,  but  returned  lo  this  city 
in  1887,  and  is  now  an  efficient  business  man.  George  Parks 
sold  his  claim  and  returned  to  Maine  where,  if  alive,  he  still 
resides.  He  was  our  first  supervisor  of  roads.  N.  E.  Stod- 
dard came  from  Ohio.  He  was  a  scientific  agriculturist  and 
horticulturist,  and  was  the  first  to  improve,  by  a  system  of 
hybridizing,  the  earliness  of  Ohio  dent-corn.  He  also  intro- 
duced the  Stoddard  seedling-potato,  of  much  merit.  He  died 
in   the  prime  of  manhood  while  a  resident  on  his  farm. 

Z.  M.  Brown  was  a  pioneer  hardware  dealer  in  St.  Anthony. 
He  removed  to  this  side  of  the  river,  and  was  engaged  in 
active  business.  After  entering  his  land  he  sold  it  and 
removed  to  Monticello  in  this  state.  He  died  some  ten  years 
ago.  Mr.  Hill,  his  ancient  neighbor,  was  the  father  of  Hon. 
Henry  Hill,  an  early  lawyer  in  Minneapolis.  He  died  many 
years  ago  at  the  residence  of  a  son  who  resides  in  Brooklyn  in 
this  county.  Dennis  Peters  was  an  early  settler.  He  was  a 
hard-working,  honest  man.  I  think  he  still  resides  in  Minne- 
sota, William  Worthiugham,  the  pioneer  mechanic  of  St. 
Anthony,  lived  to  a  great  age,  and  died  three  years  ago  at  his 
home  on  Western  avenue  in  this  city. 

Charles  Farrington,  after  entering  his  laud,  sold  it  to  Mr. 
Jewett,  and  removed  to  Plymouth,  in  this  county.  He  died 
in  1887.  Elijah  Austin,  a  prominent  farmer,  died  at  his 
home  in  this  city,  some  ten  years  since,  leaving  a  widow  and 
a  son.  F.  X.  Crepau,  a  pioneer  of  St.  Anthony,  resides  on 
his  original  preemption.  He  is  a  market-gardener,  and  has 
secured  a  competency.  Stephen  Pratt,  a  member  of  the 
ancient  lumber-firm  of  Stevens,  Pratt,  and  Chambers,  lived 
an  eventful  life  on  his  farm.  He  was  a  member  of  Captain 
E.  M.  Wilson's  company  of  Mounted  Bangers.  He  lived  to 
see  the  city  limits  include  his  farm.  He  died  four  years  ago. 
His  brother  llufus  H.,  who  owned  a  place  near  him,  is  still  a 
resident  of  the  city.  A  part  of  his  homestead  has  been  laid 
out  in  city  lots.  Thomas  Stinson,  the  preemptor  of  the 
beautiful  Oak  Grove  addition,  was  an  old  man  M'hen  he  first 
arri  ved  in  Minnesota.     He  died  soon  after  entering  his  land 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    I'KOI'LE.  151 

Joseph  S.  Johnson  still  resides  in  Minneapolis.  He  has  lived 
to  see  it  grow  from  a  small  hamlet  to  an  estimated  jjopnlation 
of  over  two  hundred  thousand.  Asa  Fletcher  sold  his  farm 
on  Portland  avenue  and  removed  to  Farmington,  in  Dakota 
county,  which  is  his  present  home.  He  is  a  brother  of  Dr. 
H.  Fletclu>r.  Another  brother,  Timothy,  who  owned  an 
adjoining  farm,  died  some  fifteen  years  since.  The  Fletcher 
brothers  were  earnest,  good  men.  William  Goodwin,  a  son- 
in-law  of  Timothy  Fletcher,  who  formerly  owned  the  Ever- 
green addition  to  Minneapolis,  resides  in  Brooklyn,  in  this 
county.  Mr.  Jackson,  I  tliink,  soon  after  perfecting  the  title 
to  his  land,  removed  from  the  State. 

H.  H.  Shepley  came  to  Minnesota  as  an  invalid.  The 
climate  was  a  great  benetit  to  liim.  He  was  a  res])ected  influ- 
ential citizen,  and  died  many  years  since.  His  daughter  is 
the  wife  of  Abner  Godfrey.  Several  of  his  sons  are  residents 
of  this  state.  Andrew  J.  Foster  has  ])een  efficient  in  building 
up  the  city.  Oharles  Gilpatrick  is  one  of  our  best  farmers. 
As  the  city  expanded  he  laid  out  his  old  home  in  city-lots 
and  purchased  another  farm  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
county,  but  kept  a  city  residence. 

Deacon  James  Sully's  name  was  for  a  long  time  a  house- 
hold word  with  the  citizens  of  this  county.  Whenever  county 
matters  became  entangled,  Deacon  Sully  was  called  upon  to 
straighten  them  out.  For  several  years  he  served  the  county 
as  one  of  its  commissioners.  When  he  died  the  state  lost  one 
of  its  best  citizens.  Children  and  grandchildren  survive  him. 
Henry  C.  Keith  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  citizen. 
After  he  disposed  of  his  land,  he  followed  the  business  of  a 
contractor.  He  <leliglited  in  church  work,  and  was  called 
upon  to  forward  every  work  to  make  his  foUow-citizens  better 
men.  He  died  in  1888,  leaving  a  widow  and  three  children. 
Joseph  H.  Canney  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Keith,  his 
sister  being  Mr.  Keith's  wife  ;  and  he  was  also  a  brother-in- 
law  of  J.  B.  Bassett.  Mr.  Canney  preempted  a  small  frac- 
tion of  land  at  the  junction  of  Bassett's  creek  with  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Several  years  since  he  moved  to  the  south,  and 
died  there. 

Dorwin  E.  Moulton,  who  preempted  Dorman's  addition  to 
Minneapolis,  lives  at  Belvidere,  Boone  county,  Illinois.     Dur- 


152  PEESONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

iug  liis  long  residence  in  Minnesota  lie  was  in  active  business 
life.  He  was  a  nephew  of  Ezra  Dorman,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  St.  Anthony.  His  wife  was  a  sister  of  the  wife  of  Major 
L.  C.  Walker,  and  a  daughter  of  Cephas  Gardner,  who  at  one 
time  represented  St.  Anthony  in  the  territorial  house  of  rep- 
resentatives. 

Alfred  C.  Murphy  was  a  brother  of  Edward  Murphy.  He 
was  engaged  in  the  saddle  and  harness  business.  A  correct, 
just  man,  he  was  much  respected  by  his  neighbors.  He  died 
in  1887,  leaving  a  widow  and  several  children.  William  G. 
Murphy,  also  a  brother  of  Edward .  Murphy,  was  many  years 
engaged  in  business  in  this  city.  He  died  in  early  life.  He 
was  never  married. 

Hiram  Burliugham  raised  a  large  family  of  children,  and  a 
few  years  since  moved  to  California.  His  wife  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Reuben  Bean  who  temporarily  resided  in  the  old  gov- 
ernment house,  on  this  side  of  the  river,  as  early  as  1849. 
Mr.  Burlingham's  object  in  emigrating  to  California  was  to 
secure  land  upon  which  to  settle  his  children  around  him. 
He  was  a  hard-working  man  while  a  resident  of  this  state. 

Simeon  Odell,  a  young,  single  man  who  kept  bachelor's 
hall  for  many  years  on  the  road  to  the  Fort,  had  received  a 
good  education,  and  was  fond  of  books,  and  made  as  good  a 
farmer  as  could  be  expected  of  a  man  without  a  wife.  He 
sold  his  farm  many  years  since,  and  removed  to  the  southern 
part  of  tlie  state,  where  he  resides. 

E.  A.  Hodson  came  to  this  state  as  a  Universalist  minister. 
In  early  years  he  led  a  sea-faring  life.  He  resides  near  the 
city.  He  is  a  fluent  speaker,  a  warm  friend  of  the  pioneers, 
and  a  man  of  generous  imi^ulses. 

Edgar  Folsom,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  St.  Anthony, 
resides  in  the  city.  He  is  a  man  of  industrious  habits.  Mrs. 
Sayer,  the  only  female  preemptor  on  the  military  reservation, 
became  the  wife  of  William  Dickie.  She  died  many  years 
ago.  Mr.  Dickie  was  a  man  of  talent,  and  always  popular. 
He  removed  to  Virginia  several  years  since,  where  he  now 
resides. 

Robert  Blaisdell,  a  native  of  northern  Vermont,  spent  many 
years  in  Maine,  from  which  state  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  Minnesota.     Industrious,  a  kind  husband  and  father,  an 


OF    MINNKSO'IA    AND    ITS    I'EOPLE.  153 

obliging  neighbor,  his  death,  in  the  spring  of  1887,  was  much 
lamented.  He  was  over  fonr-score  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
liis  dei)arture  from  this  world  of  sorrow.  His  oldest  son,  John 
T.  Blaisdell,  resides  on  the  land  he  preempted  so  many  years 
ago.  He  is  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  of  good  business  habits, 
and  enjoys  the  entire  confidence  of  the  community.  William 
Blaisdell,  another  son  of  Robert  Blai.sdell,  also  resides  on  his 
jjrimitive  claim.  A  great  poi-tion  of  the  time  since  his  resi- 
dence here  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  Ijusiuess.  He 
is  alive  to  everything  that  benefits  the  city  and  state,  and  is  a 
good  man.  While  he  has  decided  opinions  of  his  own,  he  is 
willing  others  should  enjoy  the  same  privilege. 

Deacon  John  S.  Mann  came  west  from  Vermont  when  a 
boy.  After  selling  his  claim  he  removed  further  west,  and  is 
now  a  resident  of  Mandan,  Dakota.  Hi'  Avas  the  first  deacon 
in  the  first  Congregational  church  at  the  Falls  of  St. 
Anthony.  He  was  also  the  first  treasurer  of  Hennepin  county. 
His  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  the  venerable  pioneer,  Joshua 
Draper.  DeacimMann  was  a  useful  citizen,  and  his  removal 
from  the  county  is  greatly  regretted. 

Lucien  N.  Parker  is  a  resident  of  Minneapolis.  For  many 
years  he  has  followed  the  practice  of  veterinary  surgeon  in 
this  city,  with  much  success.  Henry  Aiigell  sold  his  claim 
and  removed  to  California.  He  is  remembered  as  a  quiet, 
good  man.  Henry  Heap  resides  in  Minneapolis.  He  has 
led  a  just,  honest  life,  and  is  resj)ected  by  every  one. 

James  A.  Lennon,  a  brother  of  John  George  Lennon,  was 
for  many  years  an  acti\e  business  man.  He  (le;dt  largely  in 
real-estate.  His  death  occurred  in  1876.  Mr.  Lennon  was^ 
man  of  much  more  than  average  ability.    He  was  never  married. 

Deacon  Oliver  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  best-known 
men  in  Minneapolis,  and  one  of  the  most  honored  of  all  its 
citizens.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Westminster 
church  in  this  city.  He  never  had  any  children,  but  his  aged 
widow  survives  him.  That  excellent  lady  has  recently  con- 
tributed a  very  large  sum  of  money  for  the  Ijonefit  of  Mc- 
Allister college. 

Charles  Moseau,  after  selling  his  farm  on  Lake  Calhoun, 
moved  into  the  city  and  followed  the  business  of  carpentering. 
He  died  several  years  since,  leaWng  several  children.     He  was 


154  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

a  quiet,  unassuming  man,  lionest  and  faithful  in  every  walk 
of  life. 

George  E.  Huy  is  now  a  resident  of  Great  Falls,  Montana, 
filling  the  office  of  city  judge.  He  was  the  second  register  of 
deeds  of  Hennepin  county,  and  also  held  several  other  offices 
in  the  city  and  county.  He  contributed  much  in  building  up 
the  city.  None  of  the  old  settlers  are  held  in  higher  esteem 
than  Mr.  Huy 

David  Gorham,  after  selling  his  farm  to  R.  P.  Russell, 
moved  to  the  neighborhood  of  Medicine  Lake,  and  for  most 
of  the  time  has  lived  there.  He  was  the  first  coroner  of 
Hennepin  county.  Mr.  Gorham  has  always  commanded  the 
respect  of  the  citizens  of  the  county. 

Arthur  H.  Mills,  for  many  years,  was  actively  engaged  in 
business  in  this  vicinity.  He  was  a  quartermaster  in  the 
army,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  during  the  late  civil  war. 
His  wife,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  ladies  that  ever  resided 
here,  died  while  he  was  in  the  army,  leaving  an  only  son. 
After  the  war.  Captain  Mills  was  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business.  He  died  greatly  lamented  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends. 

jQsiali  Draper,  Captain  Mills  nearest  neighbor  on  the  old 
reservation,  sold  his  interest  in  his  preemption  and  moved  to 
Sauk  Center  in  this  state,  but  lived  only  a  few  years  after  his 
removal.  Mr.  Draper  was  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  church, 
and  was  a  man  of  great  worth. 

Charles  Brown,  after  the  disposal  of  his  farm,  removed  up 
the  river  from  Minneapolis,  where  he  resides.  Mr.  Brown 
was  a  good  farmer  and  a  good  neighbor. 

Fraiik  Rollins  lived  on  his  farm  for  many  years  after  lie 
preempted  it.  He  subsequently  moved  to  Hutchinson,  Mc- 
Leod  county,  in  this  state,  where  lie  died  two  years  ago. 
Mr.  Rollins  was  a  man  of  great  merit.  Simeon  Bean,  a 
nephew  of  Captain  John  Rollins,  has  been  engaged  more  or 
less  in  the  lumber  business.  He  is  a  resident  of  the  state, 
and  is  a  capable,  honest  man. 

John  Wass  is  a  resident  of  this  city,  though  since  preempt- 
ing his  land  he  has  frequently  been  absent  from  the  state. 
He  has  always  led  mi  honest  life. 

Ard  Godfrey's  life  has  been  full  of  interesting  events.     For 


OF   MINNESOTA  AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  155 

many  years  he  has  been  extensively  engaged  in  the  milling 
industries  of  this  state.  He  is  a  resident  of  this  city.  No 
man  among  the  pioneers  has  been  more  efficient  in  accom- 
plishing good  results  for  the  state  than  Mr.  Godfrey.  His 
friends  are  numerous  ;  his  enemies  (if  any)  are  few.  For 
the  many  favors  he  bestowed  ui)on  the  jjioneers,  in  territo- 
rial days,  too  much  credit  cannot  be  given. 

Amasa  Crafts  lives  in  our  midst.  Since  his  i)reemption  he 
has  been  engaged  in  different  business  pursuits.  He  is  a  man 
of  sterling  worth,  and  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  the 
entire  community. 

Hiram  Van  Nest  has,  by  a  life  of  industry  and  integrity, 
accumulated  a  comi^etency.  He  divides  his  time  between 
this  city  and  California.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Kobert  Blaisdell. 

John  Berry,  after  he  sold  his  farm,  moved  into  the  city  and 
resided  here  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  farmers  in  the  state.  He  left  an 
interesting  family,  some  of  whom  are  residents  of  this  city. 
Mr.  Berry  was  an  industrious,  honest  man. 

Mark  T.  Berry,  oidy  son  of  John  Berry,  is  a  resident  of 
Los  Angeles,  California,  and  is  extensively  engaged  in  fruit- 
raising. 

Eobert  Blaisdell,  jr.,  has  been  largely  engaged  with  his 
brother  William  in  the  himber  trade.  He  has  also  exten- 
sive farming  interests.  His  residence  has  always  been  in 
Minneapolis.     Mr.  Blaisdell  is  a  good  citizen. 

Willis  G.  Moffett  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  surrounded  by  a 
large  family  of  children  who  had  all  reached  maturity  before 
his  death.  He  was  one  of  the  most  ^rained  of  the  pioneers. 
His  son,  William  G.  Moffett,  is  a  resident  of  a  portion  of  the 
land  he  i)reempted.  He  has  led  a  farmer's  life,  honored  by 
the  people  of  this  portion  of  the  state. 

Colonel  S.  Woods,  U.  S.  A.,  who  o\med  the  land  bordering 
on  the  north  bank  of  Minnehaha  Falls,  is  now  a  resident  of 
Oakland,  California. 

William  Finch  moved  to  California  in  1878,  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  that  state.  He  is  a  nephew  of  Hon.  John  W. 
North.     Mr.  Finch  was  deservedly  popular. 

Samuel  Stough  had  reached   middle   life  upon   his  advent 


156  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

into  the  territory.  He  lias  been  dead  many  years,  but  his 
memory  is  still  green  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  had  the 
pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  His  aged  widow,  and  several 
children,  survive  him.  Among  the  latter  is  Mrs.  Captain 
Mahlon  Black  of  this  city. 

S.  S.  Crowell  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Plymoutli  Congregational  church  in  this  city.  He  died  sev- 
eral years  ago,  greatly  respected. 

Mark  Baldwin,  after  the  sale  of  his  farm,  lived  for  a  time 
at  Litchfield,  in  this  state,  from  which  place  he  moved  to 
California. 

Thomas  W.  Pierce  has  always  been  a  valued  citizen.  He 
is  still  a  resident  on  the  land  he  obtained  from  the  govern- 
ment. 

Few  men  were  better  or  more  favorably  known  than  Calvin 
Church.  He  w^as  a  pure  specimen  of  manhood.  His  widow, 
now  Mrs.  Captain  John  Noble,  lives  in  this  city. 

A.  K.  Hartwell  for  many  years  was  a  merchant  on  Wash- 
ington avenue.     He  now  resides  in  California. 

"William  Hanson  lived  to  be  over  eighty  yeats  of  age.  He 
led  an  honest  life,  and  died  greatly  regretted.  His  son,  Hon. 
D.  M.  Hanson,  was,  in  his  day,  one  of  our  most  prominent 
citizens.  He  died  in  the  spring  of  1856,  while  a  member  of 
the  territorial  council. 

Daniel  M.  Coolbaugh,  who  made  an  arrangement  with  Dr. 
A.  E.  Ames  to  enter  a  portion  of  his  original  claim,  was  for 
many  years  one  of  our  most  active  citizens.  A  portion  of  the 
land  Mr.  Coolbaugh  preempted  is  now  known  as  Mattison's 
first  and  second  additions  to  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Coolbaugh 
had  a  large  circle  of  friends.  His  widow  resides  in  the  city. 
Three  children  survive  him — Rev.  Frank  Coolbaugh,  an 
Episcopal  clergyman  of  great  promise,  Mrs.  W.  E.  Jones, 
and  Mrs.  L.  Hael. 

Gordon  Jackins,  who  was  interested  in  a  claim  in  this 
county,  with  his  brother  AVilliam,  lived  and  died  in  Hassan, 
in  this  county  and  state. 

Eev.  Abner  C.  Godfrey,  a  brother  of  Ard  Godfrey,  who 
preempted  a  fraction  of  land  on  the  bank  of  the  river  below 
the  Falls,  returned  east  in  1856,  and  is  pastor  of  a  Methodist 
church  in  the  interior  of  Massachusetts. 


♦ 


I 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   TEOPLE.  157 

Edwin  Hedderly,  whose  home  joined  Mr.  Godfrey's,  was  for 
more  than  twenty  years  one  of  the  most  active  ])usiness  men 
in  Minneapolis.     His  death  occurred  in  this  city. 

There  were  one  or  two  others  who  preempted  land  on  the 
military  reservation  and  the  ceded  Indian  lands,  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  the  west  bank  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony, 
but  their  present  residence  (if  they  are  alive)  is  unknown  to 
me.  There  are  others,  not  mentioned  in  this  chapter,  whose 
names  will  be  recorded  in  the  following  pages. 

BUT    FEW   ANSWER    AT   ROLL-CALL. 

Only  a  few  of  those  whose  names  are  mentioned  in  the 
foregoing  survive  the  years  that  have  passed  since  they  first 
occupied  their  lands.  It  is  a  duty  I  owe  to  their  memory  to 
record  their  names  ;  to  bear  a  willing  tribute  to  their  many 
virtues  ;  to  cheerfully  hand  down  to  this  and  future  genera- 
tions my  testimony  as  to  the  honesty  of  the  first  occupants  of 
the  soil  The  fields,  which  they  cultivated  with  so  much 
pride,  are  now  part  of  a  large  city,  teeming  with  a  multitude 
of  i)eople,  who  have  but  little  knowledge  of  those  who  pre- 
ceded them  as  the  owners  of  the  land  ujjon  which  their  homes 
are  made.  The  earnest  faces,  manly  forms,  free  speech,  frank 
manners  and  youthful  appearance  of  the  pioneers  of  those 
early  days  of  trust  and  trial,  tribulation  and  triumph,  are  so 
distinct  in  my  memory  that  the  foreground  of  the  present, 
bright  as  it  is,  seems  a  background  that  brings  more  conspic- 
>uously  into  view  those  glowing  forms  of  the  past. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE   UNIVERSITY   OF   MINNESOTA. 

The  regents  of  the  University  held  several  sessions  during 
1851.  At  the  first  meeting  Regent  Marshall  moved  that 
immediate  steps  be  taken  for  the  erection  of  a  building  suita- 
ble for  a  preparatory  department.  Governor  Ramsey,  Sibley, 
Marshall,  and  Rice,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  secure  a 
library.  Advertisements  were  ordered  published  in  the  news- 
papers, soliciting  the  donation  of  a  site  for  the  University 
from  land-owners.  In  response,  Messrs.  Franklin  Steele,  H. 
H.  Sibley,  "VV.  A.  Cheever,  Joseph  McAlpin,  S.  W.  Farnham, 
C.  T.  Stinson,  R.  W.  Cummings,  and  Henry  Angell,  offered 
lands  for  that  purpose.  After  a  thorough  examination  of  the 
sites  offered,  that  of  Franklin  Steele  was  accepted.  This 
location  was  on  the  grounds  and  adjoining  the  lands  of  the 
Exposition  building,  and  it  consisted  of  less  than  five  acres. 

At  the  June  meeting  of  the  regents  the  secretary  was 
directed  to  advertise  for  proposals  for  the  immediate  building 
of  the  preparatory  department.  Subscriptions  were  solicited 
from  the  citizens  towards  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  build- 
ing. Two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  were  raised  by  the 
citizens  for  that  purpose. 

The  standing  committee,  of  the  board  on  lands,  for  1851, 
was  composed  of  Regents  Ramsey,  Sibley  and  Van  Vorhes. 
Regents  C  H.  Smith,  Marshall,  and  Van  Vorhes,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  devise  a  proper  seal  for  the  University. 

The  teachers  in  the  public-school  district  No.  5,  Ramsey 
county,  during  the  summer,  were  Miss  Mary  A.  Scofield  and 
Miss  Mary  Murphy. 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  iT.s  i'i;orj,i:.  159 

ST.  ANTHONY'S  FIRST  CELEBRATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE  DAY. 
The  seveuty-fiftli  anniversary  of  our  National  Independence 
was  celebrated  on  Hennepin  Island.  It  being  the  first  cele- 
bration of  Independence  day  by  the  citizens  of  St.  Anthony, 
it  was  determined  that  it  should  be  one  that  would  be  a  credit 
to  old  St.  Anthony  of  Padua  himself.  On  St.  John's  day  the 
following  officers  were  selected  to  act  on  the  occasion  :  Presi- 
dent, Hon.  Charles  T.  Stearns  ;  Marshal,  Dr.  John  H.  Mur- 
phy, with  Poswell  P.  Russell  and  G.  Corvin,  assistants  ;  Wil- 
liam H.  Larned,  reader  of  Declaration  ;  Isaac  Atwater,  orator  ; 
^ey.  C.  W.  Brown,  chaplain  ;  John  H.  Stevens,  master  of 
toasts  ;  John  W.  North,  AV.  A.  Cheever,  and  Edward  Patch, 
committee  on  toasts  ;  Chessman  Gould,  Leonard  Gould,  and 
Elias  H.  Conner,  committee  on  music  ;  S.  W.  Famham,  Chas. 
Kingsley,  Sylvanus  Tourtlotte,  committee  on  salutes.  The 
entire  programme  was  carried  out,  and  a  more  interesting  and 
patriotic  cele])ration  probably  has  not  since  taken  place  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Falls.  The  oration  pronounced  by  Judge 
Atwater  was  worthy  of  the  occasion.  Among  the  distinguished 
visitors  present  was  Dr.  Malony,  long  a  member  of  congress 
from  Illinois,  whose  eloquent  speech  in  response  to  a  compli- 
mentary toast  was  greatly  enjoyed.  The  original  settlers  on 
the  reserve  were  mainly  indebted  to  Dr.  Malony,  in  after 
years,  for  the  passage  of  the  bill  by  congress  giving  them 
their  homes  for  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  an  acre. 
A   DISTINGUISHED   WEDDING. 

Early  in  July,  St.  Anthony  was  visited  by  Miss  Sarah  Coates, 
a  noted  lecturer  on  physiology.  Miss  Coates  was  a  native  of 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  Hef  lectures  here,  as  well  as 
elsewhere,  were  well  attended.  On  the  loth  of  the  following 
month,  at  the  St.  Charles  hotel,  this  lady  became  the  wife  of 
Captain  Daniel  Smith  Harris,  one  of  the  pioneer  steamboat- 
men  of  the  upper  Mississippi.  At  the  time  this  was  consid- 
ered the  most  distinguished  wedding  that  had  ever  taken 
place  in  the  little  village. 

FIRST    DOWNWARD  MOVEMENT    OF    REAL-ESTATE. 

On  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  the  14th  of  July  the  whole 
vicinity  was  startled  by  what  was  supposed  to  be  an  earth- 
quake. The  earth  trembled,  and  there  was  a  crash  louder 
than  heavy  thunder.     It  was  caused  by  a  land-slide  of  the 


160  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

west  bank  of  tlie  Mississippi  from  the  high  precipice  into  the 
river.  An  acre  or  two  of  earth,  near  where  the  gas-works 
now  are,  went  down-stream,  carrying  trees  and  rock. 

On  the  20th  of  July  Messrs.  Church  and  Getchell  started  a 
meat-market  in  the  village.  Heretofore  fresh  meats  had  to  be 
bought  mostly  in  St.  Paul,  sometimes  at  Fort  Snelling.  There 
being  no  swine  in  the  territory,  there  was,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  no  fresh-pork,  but  there  was  i:)lenty  of  salt-pork.  Veal 
was  unknown  at  this  time.  There  was  fresh-beef  after  the 
middle  of  the  summer.  In  some  instances  it  could  be  procured 
in  May  and  June,  but  it  was  of  oxen  from  the  pineries,  and 
not  desirable.     Wild  game  was  abundant  at  all  seasons. 

The  people  of  the  young  village  greatly  lamented  the  death 
of  two  married  ladies.  Mrs.  Perrin  Getchell  died  on  the  26th 
of  July,  and  Mrs.  Kamsdell,  wife  of  Edward  Kamsdell,  and 
daughter  of  Washington  Getchell,  died  on  the  15th  of  August 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 

Preparations  having  been  made,  and  the  money  raised  by 
subscription  having  been  paid  into  the  treasury  of  the  Uni- 
versity, work  was  commenced  August  9tli  on  the  preparatory 
building  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  prosecuted  with 
vigor,  the  building  being  completed  in  eight  weeks,  and  on 
the  lltli  of  October  was  ready  for  the  recejjtion  of  students. 
The  services  of  Prof.  E.  W.  Merrill  were  secured  as  principal. 
He  was  one  of  the  best  educators  of  the  day,  and  the  regents 
were  fortunate  in  their  choice. 

The  first  singing-school  in  St.  Anthony  was  organized  on 
the  23d  of  August  by  Prof.  Bennett,  of  Ohio.  Its  patronage 
was  large  for  several  terms. 

The  Express  of  August  23  made  sport  of  the  pretensions 
of  All  Saints.  The  few  of  us  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river 
laughed  with  those  on  the  other  bank,  but  were  determined 
that  All  Saints  (now  Minneapolis  proper)  should  be  a  rival 
to  the  east  side  that  we  would  not  be  ashamed  of.  It  came 
sooner  than  we  expected  ;  we  swallowed  the  Express,  its 
editor,  St.  Anthony,  Cheever-town  and  all. 

August  30th  D.  E.  Moulton,  a  former  prominent  citizen  of 
the  lead-mines  of  southern  Wisconsin,  purchased  and  took 
possession  of  the  St.  Charles  hotel. 

On  the  first  of  September  a  change  was  made  in  the   com- 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  IGl 

mand  and  the  officers  at  Fort  Snelling.  Captain  S.  B.  Buck- 
ner  was  ordered  to  take  command  at  Fort  Atchison,  which 
was  at  the  Santa  Fe  crossinj^,  in  Arkansas ;  and  Captain  R. 
W.  Kirkliam  was  sent  to  Jetferson  barracks,  Missouri.  Both 
of  these  officers  were  greatly  interested  at  that  time  in  real- 
estate  in  this  neighborhood. 

On  Monday,  the  15th  of  September,  the  first  temperance 
society  was  organized ,  in  St.  Anthony,  with  Washington 
Getchell,  president  ;  Isaac  Brown,  vice-president ;  George  F. 
Brott,  secretary  ;  John  W.  North,  Eufus  Famham,  Isaac  V. 
Drai)er,  and  Allen  Harmon,  committee. 

On  the  22(1  the  entire  Express  outfit  was  purchased  by 
Judge  Atwater  ;  Messrs.  Elmer  Tyler,  H.  and  J.  P.  Wood- 
bury, retiring. 

On  December  13th  the  mercury  fell  to  twenty  degrees 
below  zero,  which  i)roved  to  be  about  the  coldest  day  in  the 
winter.  The  ice  below  the  Falls  became  gorged  and  spread 
over  the  low  grounds  at  Miller's  and  Cheever's  landings,  now 
the  Bohemian  Flats,  so-called.  The  like  was  never  known 
before  by  the  primitive  settlers,  and  has  never  occurred  since. 
Mr.  Lennon's  warehouse  received  seriovis  injury  from  the  ice. 

The  Congregational  church  building  was  finished  on  the 
15th.  It  was  one  of  the  best  edifices  of  the  kind  in  the 
territory. 

The  winter  lectures  before  the  Library  association  were 
commenced  December  16th,  when  the  new  Chief-Justice,  M. 
M.  Fuller,  delivered  the  first  lecture. 

The  school-census  was  finished  December  27th,  and  the 
result  showed  that  the  village  contained  one  hundred  and 
eighty-five  school  children,  a  large  majority  of  them,  with 
their  parents,  only  residents  since  the  opening  of  navigation 
the  previous  spring  :  the  population  having  more  than 
doubled  during  eight  months. 

ST.    ANTHONY   PIONEERS   OF    1851. 

The  following  are  among  the  valuable  citizens  who  came  to 
the  village  in  1851,  though  a  few  of  the  names  should  have 
been  included  in  the  lists  of  previous  years  :  Colonel  Emanuel 
Case,  Ira  Murphy,  George  E.  Case,  J,  H.  Brown,  Sweet  W. 
Case,  James  Gale  Case,  Mark  T.  Berry,  A.  H.  Mills,  S. 
Jenkins,  A.  H.  Young,   Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  Norman  Jenkins,  J. 


162  PERSONAL    KEC0LLECTI0N8 

C.  Lawrence,  Thomas  Self,  Samuel  Ross,  Edward  Lippincott, 
Hon.  Samuel  Thatcher,  George  A.  Camp,  John  T.  Blaisdell, 
Hiram  Van  Nest,  Philip  Fraker,  S.  B.  Sutton,  Joseph  Le 
Due,  A.  G.  McKenzie,  Dr.  V.  Fell,  James  M.  Jarrett,  Lucius 
C.  Walker,  G.  B.  Dutton,  Christopher  Greeley,  William 
Blaisdell,  William  W.  Wales,  Eobert  Blaisdell,  Robert  Blais- 
dell, jr.,  William  G.  Moffett,  John  C.  Gairns,  Joel  B.  Bassett, 
Fleet  F.  Strother,  Isaac  Brown,  Charles  Case,  P.  Strother, 
Joseph  Menard,  Eev.  A.  C.  Godfrey,  Waterman  Stinson, 
David  Bickford,  Leonard  Gould,  G.  Corvin,  A.  N.  Hoyt,  Otis 
T.  Whitney,  Chessman  Gould,  Sylvanus  Tourtelotte,  Isaac  V, 
Draper,  Prof.  E.  W.  Merrill,  H.  H.  Given,  David  A.  Secombe, 
E.  L.  Hall,  Timothy  Fletcher,  William  Spooner,  William  Mc 
Farland,  Henry  Fowler,  L.  Cummings,  J.  C.  Tufts,  Z.  E.  B. 
Nash,  Edgar  Nash,  Z.  M.  Brown,  Benjamin  Soule,  Benjamin 
Brown,  George  Davis,  William  H.  Hubbard,  William  A. 
Bowell,  Thomas  Stinson,  Bev.  Mr.  Jones,  John  Wass,  Charles 
Fish,  Asa  Fletcher,  William  Goodwin,  Ezra  Foster,  Munson 
Brothers,  Nathaniel  Tibbetts  and  brothers,  B.  F.  Hildreth, 
Leonard  Day  and  sons,  S.  E.  Foster,  A.  J.  Foster,  E.  P. 
Mills,  James  H.  Mills,  and  William  Laschell. 

LAST   OF   THE   VISITS   OF   THE    RED-MEN. 

The  Indian  chieftain,  Man-of-the-Clouds,  with  several  of 
his  tribe,  came  down  from  Oak  Grove,  on  Christmas,  seeking 
presents  and  alms  from  R.  P.  Russell,  and  other  acquaint- 
ances at  the  Falls.  He  said  he  could  not  expect  to  meet  his 
white  friends  in  this  neighborhood  in  the  future,  as  his  band 
would  soon  move  for  the  winter  into  the  hunting-grounds  of 
the  big- woods,  and  when  spring  came  he  should  follow  the 
Dakotas  to  their  reservation  on  the  upper  Minnesota  river. 
He  was  desirous  of  accepting  such  farewell  gifts  with  the 
compliments  of  the  season  as  his  friends,  Mr.  Russell  and 
others,  should  see  proper  to  give  him,  which  he  should 
cherish  as  tokens  of  friendship  in  his  new  home.  As  the 
wily  chieftain  mostly  solicited  perishable  gifts  (in  their 
hands )  such  as  bread,  meat,  sugar,  coffee,  and  the  like,  it 
was  evident  that  the  immediate  wants  of  the  stomach  were 
the  tokens  by  which  his  former  friends  were  to  be  remem- 
bered. 

We   made  the   old   Man-of-the-Clouds   and  his  wives  and 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND    ITS   PKOPLE.  163 

children  liaj)])}'.  If  I  rcincinlH'r  correctly,  the  old  man  was 
right  in  saying  that  he  was  visiting  the  Falls  for  the  last 
time.  Not  so,  however,  with  Good  Road,  chief  of  the  other 
band  of  the  lake  Dakotas.  He  remembered  us  with  visits 
after  the  removal  to  the  Redwood  country  ;  but  the  close  of 
the  year  1851  in  a  mersure  ended  the  protracted  visits  of  the 
Dakotas  to  the  Falls.  It  is  true  they  would  occasionally 
swarm  down  on  us  by  the  hundreds,  but  in  after  years  their 
sojourn  was  of  short  duration. 

Both  Man-of-the-Clouds  and  Good  Road  were  born  on  the 
banks  of  Lake  Calhoun.  They  had  great  faith  in  the  healing 
virtues  of  the  water  of  a  spring  at  Owen  Keegan's  claim, 
which  they  would  come  all  the  way  from  Redwood  and  Yellow 
Medicine  to  bathe  in,  and  drink  of.  Then  again  they  would 
leave  the  Agency  in  the  fall  for  the  purpose  of  gathering  the 
cranberries  that  grew  on  the  marshes  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Minneapolis.  These  they  would  sell  to  the  traders  ;  though 
as  a  matter  of  history  it  is  well  known  that  after  their  removal 
to  the  new  reservation  they  would,  on  any  occasion  possible, 
visit  their  old  haunts  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi  on  the 
east,  and  to  the  Iowa  line  on  the  south.  This  was  not  con- 
fined to  the  Medewakantonwans,  but  to  the  Wahpekutas, 
Wahpetonwans,  and  other  bands. 

Before  the  outbreak  in  1862,  they  were  often  the  source  of 
much  annoyance  to  the  white  settlers  on  the  meadow  lands, 
from  their  wandering  habits,  but  the  end  of  the  Indian  war 
of  1862  and  1863  mostly  ended  their  visitations  to  their  former 
hunting-grounds,  the  sites  of  their  old  villages,  and  the 
graves  of  their  fathers. 


CHAPTEE  XXVI. 

A   TEMPERANCE   MOVEMENT   IN   1852. 

There  was  from  the  beginning  a  strong  temperance  element 
in  St.  Anthony,  which  included  a  large  majority  of  the  citizens. 
This  element  observed  New  Year's  day  by  a  mass  convention, 
determined  to  blot  out  by  legislative  enactment  the  selling  of 
all  intoxicating  drinks,  not  only  in  the  village  of  St.  Anthony, 
but  throughout  the  territory.  As  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
legislature  was  near,  the  convention  was  held  with  a  view  of 
influencing  public  opinion  in  favor  of  the  movement,  and  of 
strengthening  the  backbone  of  such  members  as  were  in  favor 
of  the  measure. 

It  was  decided  that  a  territorial  temperance  society  should 
be  immediately  organized.  A  committee  was  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  Dr.  V.  Fell,  G.  G.  Loomis,  Edward  Murphy,  S.  E. 
Foster,  John  McDonald,  Isaac  Brown,  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  E.  P. 
Mills,  W.  Getchell,  E.  B.  Stanley,  Isaac  V.  Draper,  Eufus 
Famham,  Dr.  H.  Fletcher,  James  McMullen,  and  Henderson 
Rogers.  This  committee  was  to  carry  out  the  views  of  the 
convention. 

As  a  matter  of  history,  it  can  be  stated  that  they  were 
entirely  successful  in  their  movement ;  the  legislature  passed 
a  moderate  prohibitory  law  ;  but  at  a  term  of  the  United 
States  court  hold  in  St.  Paul  subsequent  to  the  adjournment 
of  the  legislature  the  law  was  declared  unconstitutional. 

LYCEUM    LECTURES — DELAYED    MAIL. 

The  course  of  the  New  Year's  lectures  before  the  St.  Anthony 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  165 

Libraiy  Association  commenced  with  a  great  degree  of  success. 
Tlie  attendance  was  large  at  every  lecture.  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames 
gave  the  first  lecture,  on  physiology.  He  was  followed,  during 
the  winter,  hy  Chief  Justice  Fuller  ;  Eev.  Mr.  Merrick,  of  the 
Episcojjal  church,  St.  Paul  ;  Judge  B.  B.  Meeker,  Isaac 
Atwater,  AV.  E.  Marshall,  W.  G.  Le  Due,  and  Prof.  Merrill. 
•  None  of  us  expected  to  get  our  mail  on  time  immediately 
after  the  close  of  navigation,  but  when  weeks  passed,  and  still 
no  news  from  the  great  world  outside  of  Minnesota,  we  became 
impatient.  On  the  2d  of  January  the  delayed  mail  arrived, 
containing  the  President's  annual  message  delivered  at  the 
opening  of  Congress  on  the  first  Monday  in  December.  The 
cause  of  the  delay  was  the  diflficulty  in  crossing  Black  river, 
on  Wyman  Knowlton's  road.  AVhile  we  were  annoyed  by  the 
repeated  failures  of  the  mail,  we  were  so  pleased  to  hear  from 
our  friends  in  our  early  and  their  eastern  homes,  when  the 
mail  came,  that  we  soon  forgot  the  failures. 

BY   DOG-TllAIN  •  FROM    PEMBINA. 

The  delegates  from  Pembina  to  the  legislature,  Messrs. 
Norman  W.  Kittson,  Joseph  Rolette,  and  Antoine  Gingras, 
passed  through  the  village,  on  their  way  to  St.  Paul,  on 
the  evening  of  the  2d  day  of  January,  1852.  They  were 
sixteen  days  making  the  journey.  They  came  in  a  dog-train. 
In  those  days  it  was  considered  a  remarkably  rapid  transit. 
True,  the  same  journey  is  made  now,  by  rail,  in  as  many 
hours  as  it  then  required  days.  Three  large  Esquimaux  dogs 
in  single  file  Avere  attached  to  a  long,  narrow,  light  sled,  and 
were  capable  of  making  about  forty  miles  a  day,  though  it 
was  necessary  that  frequent  stops  should  be  made  for  the 
dogs  to  rest,  about  one  day  in  three.  The  animals  were  noble 
specimens  of  their  species.  Their  heads  were  like  those  of 
the  wolf  ;  they  had  powerful  fore-shoulders  ;  were  fleet  of  foot, 
and  capable  of  great  endurance  ;  and  when  well-trained  were 
handled  without  difficult)\  They  readily  followed  a  trail. 
Their  food  was  mostly  pemican,  which  is  dried  meat  and 
tallow  of  the  buffalo.  These  dogs  were  a  great  curiosity  in 
St.  Paul. 

The  third  legislative  assembly  convened  its  session  on  the 
7th  of  January.     Governor  Ramsey's   message  congratulated 


166  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

the  people  in  regard  to  the  treaty  with  the  Indians.  The 
session  was  a  mild  one.  Among  the  laws  of  interest  passed 
was  one  creating  the  county  of  Hennepin. 

A  PUBLIC  DINNER  TO  FRANKLIN  STEELE. 

On  January  8th,  1852,  an  event  occurred  at  St.  Anthony, 
of  the  greatest  importance  to  its  future  prosperity.  Mr. 
Steele,  who  had,  in  1849,  sold  a  half -interest  in  the  mill  and 
other  real  property  in  the  village  to  A.  W.  Taylor  of  Boston, 
purchased  it  back  from  him,  thus  inspiring  prosperity  to  the 
place.  Heretofore  Mr.  Taylor  had  refused  to  sell  lots  to  those 
who  Avanted  to  settle  on  and  improve  them.  Mr.  Steele  and 
his  partner  Ard  Godfrey  had  adopted  a  liberal  policy  in 
relation  to  the  disposal  of  property,  but  were,  as  to  actual 
settlers,  thwarted  by  Mr.  Taylor.  The  sale  that  Mr.  Taylor 
made  to  Mr.  Steele  was  considered  of  so  much  moment  to  the 
people  that  it  was  determined  by  the  citizens  to  tender  Mr. 
Steele  a  public  dinner  at  the  St.  Charles  on  the  16th  of 
January.  Messrs  Charles  T.  Stearns,  George  F.  Brott,  Dr. 
J.  H.  Murphy,  Samuel  Thatcher,  jr.,  and  Pierre  Bottineau, 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  make  the  tender  to  Mr.  Steele. 
That  gentleman's  reply  to  the  invitation  was  as  follows  :  "Fort 
Snelling,  January  16th,  1852.  Gentlemen  :  I  have  received 
your  kind  invitation  to  dinner  for  Friday  evening.  Nothing 
can  afford  me  more  pleasure  than  to  meet  my  St.  Anthony 
friends  on  that  occasion." 

The  dinner  came  off  according  to  the  progranime.  In 
response  to  the  complimentary  toast,  "  Our  distinguished  and 
esteemed  guest :  may  he  live  to  see  a  hundred  anniversaries  of 
this  joyous  occasion,"  Mr.  Steele  made  an  eloquent  speech  ; 
returning  profound  thanks  for  the  confidence  his  fellow- 
citizens  had  in  him ;  said  he  had  been  a  resident  of  this 
neighborhood  for  fourteen  years,  during  the  last  two  of  which 
the  wilderness  had  given  way  to  fruitful  fields ;  that  his 
friends  had  caused  the  hitherto  lonely  country  to  rejoice  in 
enlightened  occui)ation,  and  the  wild  lands  to  smile  with  har- 
vests. Interesting  remarks  were  made  by  Hon.  M.  E.  Ames, 
Judge  Atwater,  Major  J.  J.  Noah,  and  Dr.  C.  W.  Borup  of 
St.     Paul,    Hon.    Norman   W.   Kittson   of    Pembina,    Hon. 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  167 

Martin  McLeod  of  Oak  Grove,  Hon.  C.  T.  Steams,  Dr.  J.  H. 
Murpli}',  J.  G.  Lennon,  C.  A.  Tuttle,  and  other  i^rominent 
gentlemen  of  8t.  Anthony. 

A   PIONEER   OF   THE   LAST   CENTURY. 

Among  the  distinguished  gentk^men  jn-esent  on  that  mem- 
orable occasion  was  the  venerable  Jean  Baptiste  Faribault, 
who  visited  the  Falls  as  early  as  1798,  fifty-four  years  Ijefore. 
He  was  the  pioneer  of  pioneers  in  Minnesota,  trading  with 
the  Indians  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  two  years  previ- 
ous to  the  beginning  of  the  present  century.  He  had  a  store 
at  Little  Kapids  (  now  San  Francisco )  in  Carver  county,  in 
1802.  In  1805  he  settled  on  Pike  island,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Minnesota  river.  This  island  had  been  given  to  his  wife  by 
a  vote  of  her  Dakota  friends  in  a  grand  council.  She  was  a 
Miss  Pelagie,  daughter  of  a  French  merchant,  wlii»se  wife 
was  a  native  Dakota.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Faribault  had  four  sons, 
Alexander,  Oliver,  David,  and  Frederick.  He  had  also  several 
daughters,  one  of  whom  was  the  wife  of  an  army  officer  of 
high  rank.  Another  married  Hon.  A.  Bailey,  first  territorial 
representative  in  the  legislature  from  this  district.  Mr. 
Faribault  was  one  of  the  best  judges  in  the  northwest  • 
on  the  quality  of  fur.  He  was  small  of  stature,  and  gen- 
tlemanly in  his  bearing.  He  sent  his  children  east  to  be 
educated.  He  was  born  in  Canada,  in  1774,  and  died  at  the 
residence  of  his  son,  in  Faribault,  August  20,  1800.  He 
received  a  liberal  education  in  early  life,  and  was  a  pure, 
honest  man,  whose  memory  is  cherished  by  all  who  had  the 
pleasure  of  his  acquaintance. 

NOTABLE   DEATH — EXTREME   COLD — FIRST    FIRE. 

All  classes  of  people  were  greatly  surprised  and  grieved  to 
learn  that  Hon.  Henry  L.  Tilden,  formerly  IT.  S.  Marshal, 
and  secretary  of  the  council,  died  at  his  home  in  St.  Paul  on 
on  the  17th  of  January. 

Considerable  suffering  was  occasioned  on  the  20th  in  con- 
sequence of  the  extreme  cold  weather,  the  mercury  falling  to 
forty  degrees  below  zero  ;  probably  considerabl}'  lowez',  but 
no  one  had  a  spirit  thermometer  to  indicate  the  temperature. 


168  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

The  Express  made  light  of  the  low  temperature  ;  said  it  was 
true  the  weather  was  coolish,  even  chilly  ;  but  no  one  suffered 
any  inconvenience,  and  the  cold  made  business  more  lively. 

On  the  18tli  the  first  fire  occurred  in  the  village.  Geo.  F. 
Brott's  carriage-factory  was  totally  consumed,  at  a  loss  of 
several  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  F.  B.  Bachelor's  paint-shop 
was  in  the  upper-story  of  the  factory.  His  loss  was  also 
heavy.  The  property  was  not  insured,  as  the  fire  occurred 
before  the  days  of  insurance  companies  in  the  country  ;  though 
in  consequence  of  the  fire  one  of  the  Hartford  fire  insurance- 
companies  appointed  an  agent  in  St.  Anthony. 

VISIT   TO   THE    PINERIES   AND   MILLE   LAC. 

In  making  an  extended  trip  through  the  extreme  northwest, 
leaving  St.  Anthony  on  the  20th,  in  company  with  John  Geo. 
Lennon,  I  visited  the  pineries  on  Rum  river,  following  that 
stream  "to  its  source,  Mille  Lac,  where  we  found  several 
Indian  traders  on  the  banks  of  the  lake.  The  Mille  Lac 
Indians,  so  called,  were  of  the  Chippewa  nation.  Of  the  many 
beautiful  lakes  in  Minnesota,  there  are  none  superior  to  this. 
At  a  subsequent  visit  to  this  lake  the  same  winter,  with  my 
ancient  neighbor,  Calvin  A.  Tuttle,  he  said  the  probabilities 
were  that  some  day,  when  there  would  be  a  great  city  at  the 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  the  people  of  that  city  would  depend 
upon  this  lake  for  their  daily  supply  of  water.  A  person 
cannot  see  across  the  lake.  The  distance  from  shore  to  shore 
is  said  to  be  forty  miles.  The  surface  of  the  lake  contained 
numerous  tents  on  the  ice,  which  were  used  ])y  the  Indians 
for  fishing.  A  hole  was  cut  through  the  ice,  a  small  tent 
placed  over  it,  and  an  Indian  would  catch  a  large  number  of 
fish  from  the  place  during  the  winter.  The  Indians  had  a 
way  of  preserving  the  fish  by  drying  them  over  a  small  fire, 
and  afterwards  smoking  them.  It  was  said  that  fish  preserved 
in  this  Avay  would  be  palateable  for  a  long  time. 

Good  old  Father  Hennepin  was  a  prisoner  on  an  island  in 
this  lake  two  centuries  ago.  At  that  time  the  Dakotas  had 
possession  of  it.  Large  groves  of  hard-wood  ma])le  are  found 
on  the  borders  of  the  lake,  from  which  the  Indians  made 
sugar  every  spring.  The  sa[i  flowed  into  small  buckets  ingen- 
iously made  of  white  birch  bark. 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  1G9 

MILLE   LAC   AS   A   PROBABLE   WATER-SUPPLY    FOR    MINNEAPOLIS. 

It  is  not  jniprobable  that  Mr.  Tuttle's  prediction  may  prove 
true  in  reyard  to  the  nse  <jf  water  from  Milhi  Lac  for  the  city 
at  the  Falls.  There  are  no  difficulties  in  tlu^  May  that  engin- 
eering cannot  easily  overcome  in  conveying  tlus  water  to  this 
point.  The  problem  of  an  unlimited  supply  of  i)iire  water  for 
the  rai)idly-increasing  poj)ulation  of  our  wonderfully  fine  city 
must  soon  be  solved,  and  the  sooner  the  better. 
CANADIAN  STOVES  —WINTER  IMPROVEMENTS  —SUSPENSION  BRIDGE 

We  were  ( as  on  ])revious  winters  in  traveling  throiigh  the 
northwest)  surprised  to  find  at  every  trading  outi)ost  that 
the  stoves  in  iise  were  made  at  St.  Maurce,  a  suburb  of  Three 
Elvers,  a  little  city  between  Montreal  and  (Quebec,  in  Canaxla. 
These  stoves,  in  the  early  days,  were  in  universal  use  in  the 
northwest.  The  quarters  at  Fort  Snelling  had  them.  The 
Fur  Company  used  them.  They  were  brought  from  Canada 
by  way  of  the  great  lakes. 

Returning  on  the  7th  of  February,  I  was  pleased  to  notice 
that  several  new  buildings  had  been  commenced  in  St. 
Anthony  during  my  absence.  Cold  as  that  season  was,  there 
were  some  who  were  so  impatient  to  make  improvements  they 
would  not  wait  until  spring  but  commenced  operations  in 
mid-winter.  At  this  time  St.  Anthony  had  nine  stores,  one 
cabinet-shop,  four  blacksmith  shops,  two  carriage  factories, 
and  other  industries.  On  the  21st  of  February  the  legisla- 
ture passed  a  bill  authorizing  the  building  of  a  bridge  over 
the  Mississippi  from  Nicollet  Island  to  the  western  shore  of 
the  river.  The  incorporators  were  Franklin  Steele,  Henry 
H.  Sibley,  Henry  M.  Rice,  Calvin  A.  Tuttle,  Isaac  Atwater, 
John  H.  Stevens,  John  George  Lennon,  John  Rollins,  A.  E. 
Ames,  and  D.  E.  Moulton,  all  of  Minnesota  ;  and  Robert 
Smith  of  Alton,  and  Buel  G.  Wheeler,  of  Rockford,  Illinois. 

HIGH  PRICES  THE  RULE  IN  1852. 
Perhaps  because  tired  of  living  on  salt  meats,  salt  fish, 
venison,  and  other  game,  durin^^  the  Avinter,  when  fresh  pork 
from  Iowa  was  placed  in  the  market  it  readily  sold  for  twelve 
and  a  half  cents  i)er  pound.  On  the  22d  of  February  a  saloon- 
keeper, wishing  to  purchase  a  few  eggs  to  make  "  tom-and- 
jerry",  so  that  Washington's  birthday  could  be,  as  he  said, 
properly  celebrated,  had  to  pay  forty  cents  a  dozen  for  them. 


170  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

Everything  iiiled  high  at  the  Falls  during  the  winter  of  1852. 
Even  hay  l)ecame  scarce.  The  meadows  back  of.  the  city  in 
the  fall  had  contained  a  large  amount  of  hay,  which  had  been 
properly  stacked,  but  a  large  portion  of  it  had  mysteriously 
disappeared  during  the  early  winter,  and  when  the  owners 
went  for  it  in  February  it  was  not  to  be  found,  and  they  never 
discovered  what  became  of  it. 

A    SOCIETY    WEDDING    AND    CHURCH    FESTIVITIES. 

Our  high-sherifP,  Geo.  F.  Brott,  had  become  convinced  that 
it  was  not  good  for  man  to  live  alone.  Consequently,  on  the 
19th  of  February  he  married  Miss  Mary  G.  Steams,  the  accom- 
plished daughter  of  Hon.  C.  T.  Steams.  Eev.  Chas.  Secombe, 
of  the  Congregational  church,  officiated  on  the  occasion.  A 
marriage  in  the  A'illage,  during  the  early  days,  was  an  uncom- 
mon event,  and  it  was  j^roperly  observed  by  what  would  now 
be  called  the  society  people.  Though  few.  were  given  in  mar- 
riage, the  social  season  at  the  Falls  continued  all  through  the 
long  winter.  There  were  balls,  parties,  lectures,  lyceums, 
and  gatherings  of  old  and  young  at  private  residences,  all  to 
close  for  the  season,  on  the  second  of  March,  with  a  grand 
donation  visit  to  Rev.  C  G.  Ames  and  his  excellent  wife,  at 
the  home  of  Deacon  Allen  Harmon.  The  committee  to  man- 
age the  gathering  represented  every  c-hurch  in  the  village. 
For  instance,  John  W.  North,  E.  P.  Mills,  Thomas  Chambers, 
and  H.  Jenkins,  M-ere  from  the  Congregational  church  ;  Prof. 
Merrill,  Mrs.  Merrill,  and  Miss  Mary  Murphy,  from  the 
Methodist  church  ;  AVm.  H.  Townsend,  Geo.  W.  Prescott, 
Mrs.  Prescott,  and  Miss  Nason,  the  Baptist  church  ;  Dr.  V. 
Fell,  Mrs.  Fell,  and  Miss  Lucy  Harmon,  the  Free-Will 
Baptist  ch-iirch  ;  while  Henry  Fowler,  Mrs.  Fowler,  George 
Burrows,  H.  Piogers,  E.  E.  Eamsdell,  Miss  North,  Mrs.  C.  D. 
and  Mrs.  A.  H.  Dorr,  Miss  Dorr,  and  Miss  Adeline  Jefferson, 
represented  different  churches.  As  the  first  donation  visit 
ever  held  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  it  was  a  great  success. 
Every  one  contributed  to  the  worthy  pastor  and  his  wife,  and 
every  one  was  hapjn'. 

OTHER  EVENTS  OF  THE  WINTER. 

Two  days  after  the  ha])])y  event  above  described,  March  4, 
the  store  of  Daniel  Stanchheld  was  consumed   bv  fire.     This 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITK   I'EOPLE.  171 

was  the  second  serious  fire  in  8t.  Anthony.  Mr.  Stanchfiekl 
had  a  hea^'y  stock  of  j^oods,  and  all  was  consumed. 

On  the  13tli  Isaac  Atwater  Avas  appointed  reporter  for  the 
supreme  court. 

On  the  20th  the  mails  were  only  twenty-one  days  l)ehind 
time.  This  fact  indicated  that  spring  was  near,  and  that  the 
mail-carrii'r  could  not  get  across  the  rivers  bet\veen  Prairie 
du  Chien  and  St.  Paul,  in  conseciuence  of  the  ice  breaking. 
The  uncertainties  of  the  mail  were  of  more  anxiety  to  us  than 
our  money,  or  anything  else.  On  the  22d  new  ice  must  have 
been  made,  a.s  the  thermometer  showed  ten  degrees  below 
zero.     Spring  not  so  near  as  we  exi)ected. 

OUR    OLD    COUNTY    BOUNDARY. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  legislature,  the  few  of  us  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river  determined  to  celebrate,  in  a  quiet 
way,  the  jwssage  of  the  bill  for  a  new  county.  AYe  found  on 
examination  of  the  records  that  oiir  new  boundaries  had  at 
different  times  been  included  in  the  county  of  Des  Moines, 
county  of  Dubiupie,  county  of  Clayton,  and  county  of  Ala- 
makee,  all  of  the  territory  and  state  of  Iowa;  and  the  county 
of  Dakota,  Minnesota.  We  were  inclined  to  believe  that, 
could  the  i)ro})er  records  have  been  hunted  up,  we  were  once 
included  in  some  of  the  counties  of  Missouri. 

DISCUSSING   A   NAME   FOR   OUR   TOWN. 

The  Si  Anthony  Exi)ress  of  the  27th  of  March,  just  prior 
to  our  meeting,  strongly  advised  selecting  some  other  name 
than  All  Saints  for  our  embryo  village.  This  matter  was 
considered,  but  while  all  rejoiced  at  the  ])assage  of  the  l)ill 
giving  us  a  new  county,  when  the  suggestion  of  the  Express 
was  considered  we  discovered  there  were  "many  men  of 
different  minds",  and  a  permanent  name  could  not  be  agreed 
upon.  The  Express  wanted  to  know  how  the  name  of  Hen- 
nepin would  suit  our  fancy.  That  paper  thought  it  would  be 
highly  proper  to  name  the  i)rospective  village  after  the  first 
white  man  mIio  witnessed  the  dancing  waters  of  St.  Anthony, 
and  said  the  "  day  was  not  far  distant  Avhen  the  west  side  of 
the  Falls  would  be  the  second  city  in  Minnesota,  always 
remembering  that  St.  Anthony  will  be  the  first".  AMiile  we 
were  pleased  with  the  comi)limentary  remarks  in  regard  to 
our  future  prospects,  the  name  of  Hennepin  did  not  strike  us 


172  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

favorably,  because  it  was  the  name  of  our  county.  Had  that 
been  called  Snelling,  as  we  wanted  it,  our  choice  would  have 
been  unanimous  for  adopting  the  suggestion,  and  no  doubt 
future  letters  from  the  west  side  would  have  been  dated  Hen- 
nepin, Snelling  county,  Minnesota,  instead  of  Minneapolis, 
Hennepin  county,  Minnesota. 

INCIDENTS    OF    THE    SPRING    OF    1852. 

During  the  last  week  in  March,  most  all  the  teams,  with  the 
crews  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  the  pineries,  arrived 
in  St.  Anthony.  Those  that  were  in  good  working  order  were 
fattened  for  a  few  weeks,  and  sent  to  the  shambles.  Pinery 
beef  was  the  subject  of  funny  editorials  in  the  Pioneer. 

The  steamer  Governor  Ramsey  had  been  completely  over- 
hauled and  put  in  excellent  condition  for  the  navigation  of 
the  upjjer  Mississippi  for  the  approaching  season.  In  the 
early  spring  Captain  Rollins  sold  the  steamer  to  Captain 
Parker,  Benj.  Soule,  A.  H.  and  C.  D.  Dorr,  and  Dr.  C.  W. 
Borup.  In  the  change  of  the  ownership  of  the  boat  the  same 
jiopidar  officers  and  crew  were  retained.  The  river  was  free 
from  ice  on  the  second  of  April,  and  the  steamer  resumed  its 
regular  trips  for  the  year.  Captain  Tapper's  ferry  was  put 
in  good  order  at  the  same  time. 

After  a  slight  fall  of  snow  during  the  first  days  of  April, 
Hobart  "NYhitson,  who  resided  above  the  Falls,  came  upon  the 
tracks  of  a  strange  animal.  Following  them  for  a  few  miles, 
he  came  near  an  Indian  encampment.  He  turned  over  the 
trail  to  the  Indians,  who  followed  it  for  over  ten  miles,  when 
the  animal  took  refuge  up  a  tree,  and  was  killed.  It  was  said 
that  the  strange  beast  was  three  feet  high,  and  seven  feet 
eleven  inches  long  from  the  tip  of  the  nose  to  the  end. of  the 
tail.  It  was  thought  to  be  the  first  animal  of  the  kind  ever 
seen  in  Minnesota.  It  was  probably  a  panther.  Another 
animal  of  the  same  kind  M'as  seen  a  few  days  afterwards,  but 
escaped  from  the  Indians  who  were  hunting  it.  About  the 
same  time  an  eagle  of  tremendous  size  soared  around  Cheever's 
hill,  now  the  site  of  the  University.  This  particular  king  of 
birds  was  strong  enough  to  carry  ofP  a  sheep.  He  was  caught 
in  a  traj)  through  the  ingenuity  of  one  of  the  ])ioneers,  with- 
out being  nnich  injured.  For  a  while  this  bird  was  the 
winged  favorite  t)L"  tlic  village. 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  173 

On  the  14tli  of  April  Calvin  A.  Tuttle  and  Simon  Stevens 
returned  from  an  ex})loring  exj)edition  immediately  south  and 
west  of  the  Falls.  They  reported  the  discovery  of  what  is 
now  Lake  Minnetonka.  The  Express  said  the  discovery 
created  a  good  deal  of  excitement.  Messrs.  Tuttle  and 
Stevens  gave  the  lake  the  name  of  "  Peninsula,"  from  the 
fact  it  contained  so  many  arms  extending  out  and  in  all 
around  its  boundaries  ;  but  during  the  following  month  Gov. 
Ramsey  and  a  party  visited  the  new  wonder,  and  the  governor 
christened  it  Minnetonka,  a  name  it  retains  to  this  day. 
While  the  existence  of  so  large  a  body  of  water  was  unknown 
to  the  new  immigrants  of  1849  and  two  subsequent  years,  the 
old  settlers  were  well  acquainted  with  its  waters  ;  but  the 
great  beauty  of  the  lake  Iiad  never  been  described  to  the  new- 
comers. In  fact  the  lake  had  been  visited  by  Joseph  E. 
33rown,  and  a  son  of  Colonel  Siielling,  as  early  as  1822.  In 
after  years  Franklin  Steele  and  Martin  McLeod  also  made  a 
l)ilgrimage  to  Minnetonka,  and  probably  many  other  old 
residents  also  visited  it. 

A  sad  event  occurred  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Fowler.  His 
daughter  was  accidentally  shot  by  her  brother.  It  was  the 
rei)etition  of  so  many  accidents  ever  since  the  introduction  of 
h rearms.  The  youngster  did  not  know  the  gun  was  loaded. 
This  was  the  first  accident  of  the  kind  that  occurred  at  the 
Falls.     It  is  to  be  regretted  it  was  not  the  last. 

The  able  pen  of  Eev.  T.  RoMell,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman 
of  much  talent,  contributed  articles  to  the  Express  which, 
with  those  of  the  editor-in-chief,  Isaac  Atwater,  gave  the 
paper  an  excellent  reputation  over  the  whole  Union.  Mr. 
Rowell  had  been  a  resident  of  the  village  since  the  previous 
year.  Mr.  Atwater's  increasing  professional  business  rendered 
it  necessary  that  he  should,  in  a  measure,  retire  from  the 
more  active  duties  of  writing  editor.  In  May,  Geo.  D.  Bow- 
man, from  Pennsylvania,  visited  the  Falls  on  a  prospecting 
tour.  He  came  highly  recommended  as  a  newspaper  man. 
Mr.  Atwater  made  an  arrangement  with  Mr.  Bowman  by 
which  he  was  relievi'(l  from  the  arduous  duties  of  the  ])aper. 
Mr.  Bowman  continued  on  the  Express  for  many  years,  and 
became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  territory  and  state. 
Like  most  every  one  else,  he  dealt  in   real-estate  ;  for  a  time 


174  PERSONAL    ilECOLLECTIONS 

successfully  ;  in  the  end,  disastrously.  He  received  an 
important  Federal  appointment  in  New  Mexico,  which  he 
held  for  a  long  period,  and  it  is  believed  he  is  still  a  resident 
of  that  territory.  With  the  exception  of  Charles  Hoag,  who 
invented  it,  we  are  more  indebted  to  Mr.  Bowman  than  any 
person  for  the  name  oiir  proud  city  bears. 

On  April  30th  Rev.  Lyman  Palmer  made  his  home  in  St. 
Anthony,  and  became  one  of  the  most  useful  and  respected 
citizens  of  the  village.  For  years  he  occupied  the  pulpit  of 
the  Baptist  church,  which  greatly  prospered  under  his  long 
pastorate.  After  retiring  from  active  labor  in  St.  Anthony, 
he  preached  in  different  sections  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Falls. 
He  is  greatly  esteemed  by  all  denominations  of  Christians,  as 
well  as  by  the  public  generally. 

THE   UNIVERSITY    OF   MINNESOTA. 

The  so-called  preparatory  department  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  at  that  time,  under  the  auspices  of  Prof.  Merrill, 
closed  its  first  term  the  last  week  in  April.  All  were  proud 
of  the  perparatory  department.  We  were  extravagant  in  our 
expectations  ;  we  dreamed  of  a  mammoth  educational  institu- 
tion at  the  Falls  when  the  plans  of  the  regents  should  be 
perfected.  The  officers  were  earnest  in  their  work,  but  had 
scarcely  any  money  at  their  command  to  prepare  the  way  for 
anything  but  the  preparatory  school.  They  had  secured  the 
services  of  an  excellent  principal ;  the  beginning  was  a  success  ; 
but  none  of  us  had  the  least  conception  that  in  a  generation 
this  small  nucleus  of  1852  would  expand  into  one  of  the  most 
successfal  seats  of  learning  on  the  continent,  with  more  pro- 
fessors and  teachers  than  there  were  students  at  the  first 
term  of  the  preparatory  department,  and  with  more  students 
within  its  stately  halls  than  there  were  inhabitants  in  St. 
Anthony,  All  Saints,  and  all  the  immediate  country  around 
the  Falls.  Since  that  humble  beginning,  the  University  of 
Minnesota  has  been  blessed  with  able  men  in  the  presidential 
chair,  talented  professors  of  a  justly  w^orld-wide  reputation, 
and  teachers  who  have  few  equals,  yet  none  of  all  these  were 
superior  as  educators  to  the  first  principal  of  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  Professor  E.  A.  Merrill,  A.  M. 

The  tide  of  immigration  for  1852  was  in  a  great  measure 
centered  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  St.  Anthony  receiv- 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  175 

ing  its  f\ill  share.  In  early  sj^ring  Ezra  Dorman  came  u]> 
from  Hazel  Cireeii,  Wisconsin,  and  purchased  projjerty,  and 
immediately  commenced  the  erection  of  a  large  brick  building, 
which  Avas  the  first  structure  in  the  village  made  of  brick. 
Mr.  Dorman's  interesting  family,  his  son,  and  his  son-in-law, 
N.  H.  Hemiuj),  with  their  families,  followed. 

Dr.  C  L.  Anderson  arrived  in  May,  and  comiuenced  a  suc- 
cessful 2)ractice.  He  is  a  native  of  \'irginia,  but  came  to 
Minnesota  from  Indiana.  Aside  from  his  practice,  he  was 
a  geologist,  entomologist,  and  florist,  of  rare  industry  and 
attainments.  He  loved  Nature  in  all  her  beautiful  and  won- 
derful works.  He  contributed  many  able  articles  to  the  press 
of  that  day.  He  married  an  excellent  young  lady  during  his 
stay  here.  His  literary  attainments  were  of  a  high  order. 
Early  in  tlu^  sixties  he  removed  to  the  Pacific  slope.  Tarry- 
ing a  few  years  in  Nevada,  he  made  a  very  complete  catalogue 
of  the  Flora  of  that  strangely  interesting  region.  For  some 
twenty  years  lie  has  been  a  resident  of  Santa  Cruz,  California, 
where  his  skill  as  a  i)hysician,  and  his  attainments  as  a  scien- 
tist, are  widely  appreciated.  His  two  daughters,  born  in 
Miimeapolis,  are  talented  in  a  literary  and  artistic  way. 

Mr.  J.  Peddington  also  arrived  in  May,  1852. 

A  jubilee  was  held  on  the  31st  of  May  on  the  occasion  of 
the  landing  of  the  steamer  Dr.  Franklin  No.  2,  Captain 
Smith  Harris.  The  Franklin  steamed  up  almost  to  the  foot 
of  Hennepin  Island. 

Up  to  this  period  there  had  been  only  a  weekly  mail.  Fre- 
quently, however,  several  weeks  would  elapse  without  mail 
service.  Especially  this  was  so  in  the  fall  after  navigation 
had  closed,  and  in  the  spring  before  navigation  was  resumed. 
On  the  24th  of  May  our  delegate  in  congress,  Mr.  Sibley, 
obtained  an  order  from  the  general  postoffice  department  at 
Washington  for  three  mails  per  week.  The  news  of  increased 
mail  facilities  was  received  by  the  citizens  with  great  satis- 
faction. Of  course  the  route  was  a  short  one,  oidy  from  St. 
Paul,  but  it  added  greatly  in  the  delivery  of  early  mail  matter 
at  the  Falls. 

Very  many  valuable  improvements  were  commenced  in  the 
spring  of  this  year.  Aside  from  Mr.  Dorman's  brick  struc- 
ture, Elmer  Tyler   commenced  building   a   block  on   lower 


176  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

main  street,  wliieli  was  tlie  headquarters  of  so  many  merchants 
for  so  many  years. 

It  was  considered  that  if  an  ox,  cow,  or  other  animal,  jumped 
overboard  from  Captain  Tapper's  ferry-boat,  wliile  in  transit, 
from  one  shore  to  the  other,  the  beast  would  be  carried  over 
the  Falls  and  killed  ;  and  this  had  always  been  the  case  ;  but 
on  June  4tli,  Warren  Bristol  had  a  fine  yoke  of  oxen,  which 
Captain  Tai3per  was  ferrying  over  the  river.  They  became 
restless,  and  backed  off  the  boat.  Strange  as  it  may  seem, 
they  came  out  on  the  shore  without  receiving  the  slightest 
injury. 

A  public  meeting  was  held  on  the  6th  for  the  purpose  of 
adopting  measures  for  a  public  cemetery.  S.  Thatcher  occu- 
pied the  chair,  and  Dr.  J.  H.  Murphy  was  the  Secretary. 
R.  W.  Cumming's  beautiful  grounds  east  of  the  village  were 
selected  and  secured  for  the  site.  It  is  in  use  to  this  day  for 
that  puri^ose. 

On  the  11th  of  June  news  was  received  that  Franklin 
Pierce,  of  New  Hampshire,  had  received  the  democratic  nom- 
ination for  President  of  the  United  States.  A  few  days  later 
the  proceedings  of  the  Whig  national  convention  that  nomin- 
ated General  Winfield  Scott  for  President  were  received.  The 
members  of  both  parties  endeavored  to  get  up  ratification 
meetings,  but  voters  were  too  busy  with  other  matters,  and 
no  meetings  of  a  national  political  character  were  held. 

June  '20tli  a  rousing  gathering  of  the  people  occurred  in 
relation  to  securing  the  landing  of  steamboats  at  the  Falls. 
Messrs.  Steams,  Bristol,  Tapper,  Cheever,  and  E.  L.  Hall, 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  forward  the  interests  of  the 
navigation  of  the  river  up  to  the  Falls.  A  large  sum  of  money 
was  raised  for  the  purpose  of  removing  the  boulders  said  to 
interfere  with  the  safety  of  the  boats,  from  Meeker's  island 
up  to  the  landing.  The  contract  for  blasting  them  out  was 
let  to  Captain  .John  Rollins. 

Many  citizens  were  determined  to  test  the  new  temperance 
law.  On  the  22d  of  June  papers  were  issued  from  the  office 
of  Isaac  I.  Lewis,  then  a  justice  of  the  peace,  for  the  purjiose 
of  bringing  Mr.  Cloutier  before  the  court  to  answer  for  an 
alleged  violation  of  the  law.  John  W.  North  appeared  for 
the  territory,  and  E.  L.  Hall  for  the  defendant.     Judgment 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  177 

was  rendered  agaiust  Mr.  Cloutier,  but  an  appeal  was  taken 
to  the  United  States  Court,  and  the  judi^nicnt  reversed  on  the 
ground  that  tlie  law  in  question  was  unconstitutional. 

Independence  day  was  not  observed  in  St.  Anthony  ;  not 
but  what  the  jjeople  Mere  jjatriotic,  but  they  preferred  to  cele- 
brate that  memorable  day  by  visiting  the  lakes  in  a  quiet 
manner.  Many  of  the  citizens,  headed  by  Al.  Stone,  attended 
a  hall  at  the  St.  Louis  house,  near  the  cold-springs,  below 
Minnehaha  Falls. 

On  the  9th  of  July  news  was  received  of  the  death  of  Henry 
Clay,  which  occurred  at  his  home  in  Kentucky  on  the  20th  of 
the  previous  month.  The  Express  appeared  in  deep  mourn- 
ing in  consequence,  as  a  token  of  sorrow. 

July  12th  the  marriage  of  William  H.  Townsend  and  Emily 
J.  Nason  occurred.  Mr.  Townsend  represented  St.  Anthony 
in  the  lower  house  of  the  first  state  legislature. 

On  the  2Gth  of  July  Dr.  J.  H.  Murphy  and  wife  sustained 
a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  their  only  child,  Litteor  Ella,  a 
bright,  promising  little  girl. 

August  6th,  Simon  Stevens  and  Company  commenced  the 
erection  of  their  mill  at  Miunetonka.  At  this  time  Captain 
Rollins  had  finished  his  contract  for  removing  all  the 
boulders,  and  other  obstacles  from  the  river,  that  interfered 
with  the  running  of  steamboats  between  Fort  Snelling  and 
the  landings  at  the  Falls. 

On  the  Gth  an  exciting  election  came  off  in  St.  Anthony. 
Larduer  Bostwick  was  elected  city-justice  by  a  majority  of 
sixty  over  all  opposition.  This  was  the  stepping-stone  by 
which  Judge  Bostwick  subsequently  accejotably  held  for 
almost  a  quarter  of  a  century  so  many  different  offices. 

On  the  13th  the  distinguished  American  authoress,  Mrs. 
E.  F.  Ellet,  arrived.  She  was  accomjjanied  by  Miss  Clark, 
who  has  since  become  so  widely  known  as  a  writer.  Mrs. 
Ellet  visited  the  wilds  of  the  uj^per  country  at  the  instance 
of  M.  Y.  Beach,  editor-in-chief  of  the  New  York  Sun,  a  man 
of  great  prominence  in  the  literary  world  in  his  day.  He 
was  a  contemporary  of  Horace  Greeley,  the  elder  Bennett,  a 
friend  of  N.  P.  Willis,  the  two  Clarks,  Willis  Gaylord  and  his 
distinguished  brother.  Mr.  Beach,  in  company  with  his  wife, 
had   visited  tis  the  year  before,  and  was  delighted  with  the 


178  PEllSONAL    llECOLLECTIONS 

new  country.  In  the  early  fifties  liis  jjaper  had  great  influ- 
ence throughout  the  Union,  and  had  the  largest  circulation  of 
any  political  paper  on  this  continent.  Mrs.  Ellet  was  a  lively 
little  lady,  who  stood  among  the  foremost  female  writers  in 
America  of  that  day.  She  and  Miss  Clark  visited  Lake  Min- 
netonka,  and  were  among  the  first  to  describe  to  the  world  its 
great  extent  and  beautiful  scenery.  They  camped  out  several 
nights  on  the  borders  of  the  lake  so,  as  she  said,  she  might 
"  know  jiist  how  it  was  to  be  a  pioneer  in  earnest".  Simon 
Stevens  and  a  crew  of  mechanics  were  at  that  time  the  only 
residents  in  the  neighborhood  of  Minnetonka.  Stevens  and 
some  of  the  men  who  were  at  work  with  him  accompanied 
the  ladies  in  his  boat  around  every  nook  and  corner  of  the 
lake,  making  them  comfortable  and  separate  camps  for  the 
night,  and  taking  them  by  day  to  the  different  points  of 
interest  around  the  lake.  They  were  the  first  white  ladies 
that  ever  visited  Minnetonka. 

The  result  of  Mrs.  Ellet's  visit  to  this  territory  was  the 
publication  of  two  of  her  most  delightful  volumes,  one  of 
them  on  the  women  of  the  west,  and  the  other  on  her  western 
travels.  She  spent  several  days  under  my  humble  roof.  She 
was  greatly  interested  in  the  future  of  this  side  of  the  river. 
For  many  years  she  would  write  to  me  from  her  home  in 
New  York  asking  about  the  progress  of  Minneapolis. 

A  social  event  occurred  on  the  8th  of  August,  of  some 
moment,  especially  when  we  consider  that  there  were  only 
two  or  three  bachelors  on  this  side  of  the  river,  and  only 
about  the  same  number  of  girls ;  so  when  John  Tapper  mar- 
ried Miss  Matilda  Stinson  we  all  took '  a  holiday.  Eev.  Mr. 
Rowell,  from  St.  Anthony,  officiated  at  the  marriage  ceremony. 

Our  new  and  valued  physician.  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  was 
appointed  surgeon  at  Fort  Snelling,  but  after  a  service  of  a 
few  weeks  he  resigned  the  office. 

On  the  27th  of  August  the  sad  news  was  received  that  Cok 
James  M.  Goodhue,  of  St.  Paul,  editor  of  the  Pioneer,  was 
dead.  He  was  only  forty-two  years  old.  Unquestionably  he 
was  the  ablest  editor  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi. 

On  the  10th  of  Sei)tember,  under  the  auspices  of  Governor 
Ramsey,  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  all  the  trouble 
with  the  Dakotas  in  relation  to  the  different  interpretations 


OF    MINNE80TA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE."  170 

of  the  Traverse  cles  Sioux  treaty  was  settled  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  both  the  whites  aud  the  red  men  who  were  the  chief 
participants  in  the  treaty. 

Tallmag;e  Elwell  came  over  from  Wisconsin  and  established 
an  art  gallery  in  the  early  fall.  Since  that  jjeriod  Mr.  Elwell 
has  constantly  resided  in  Minnesota,  and  he  is  one  of  our  best 
citizens.  He  was  the  first  realdaguerreian  artist  that  settled 
in  this  neighborhood 

Considerable  sickness  prevailed  among  the  children  during 
the  month  of  September.  Several  fatal  cases  occurred,  among 
them  Charles  Frederic,  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  Orth,  who 
died  September  17th  ;  and  Lillie,  a  daughter  of  Lardner  and 
Eliza  Bostwick,  who  died  Septeml:)er  20th. 

A  change  in  the  pastor  of  the  Methodist  church  took  place 
on  the  25th.  Rev.  C  A.  Newcomb  was  transferred  to  Adams, 
Wisconsin,  and  He  v.  Mr.  Jones,  from  southern  Wisconsin, 
was  appointed  in  his  place. 

Governor  Ramsey  appointed  Isaac  Brown  collector  and 
assessor  of  Hennepin  county.  This  was  the  first  appoint- 
ment of  any  office  whatever  in  the  county.  His  commission 
was  dated  August  27th,  1852.  A  month  later  it  would  not 
have  been  necessary  for  the  api)ointment  to  have  been  made, 
as  congress,  in  the  meantime,  jjassed  the  law  reducing  the 
reservation  of  Fort  Snelling. 

The  organic  act  passed  by  the  legislature  establishing 
Hennepin  county  contained  the  imjjortant  proviso  that  upon 
the  reduction  of  the  reserve  by  congress  the  citizens  of  the 
county  should,  at  the  next  annual  election  after  the  passage 
of  such  law,  hold  an  election  for  all  the  coimty  officers,  and 
immediately  after  the  election  and  qualification  of  such 
officers,  they  should,  in  due  form  of  law,  proceed  to  organize 
the  county — which  was  faithfully  complied  with. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

ORGANIZATION   OF   A   CLAIM   ASSOCIATION. 

Unfortunately  the  law  passed  by  congress  reducing  the 
Fort  Snelling  reservation  contained  no  provision  for  the 
relief  of  settlers  on  the  land,  thus  causing  us  great  anxiety  in 
regard  to  the  future  titles  to  our  homes.  A  claim  association 
was  instantly  organized.  Stringent  rules  were  adopted  against 
claim-jumpers,  and  others  who  might  wish  to  interfere  with 
our  claims.  The  severe  measures  taken  by  the  association 
were  of  such  a  character  that  no  one  would  be  sure  of  his  life 
who  should  attempt  to  jump  a  claim.  When  there  was  a 
claim  in  dispute  in  regard  to  the  ownership,  the  board  of 
arbitration  appointed  by  the  association  would  hear  all  the 
evidence  in  relation  to  the  matter,  and  decide  the  dispute 
according  to  the  facts.  The  decision  was  final,  and  the  suc- 
cessful claimant  had  the  powerful  protection  of  every  member 
of  the  association,  which,  as  it  afterwards  proved,  was  suffi- 
cient for  the  entry  of  his  land.  In  all  instances  the  first  one 
who  made  a  claim  to  a  quarter  section  of  land,  with  suitable 
improvements,  was  recognized  by  the  association  as  the  proper 
owner  of  it.  A  book  was  opened  by  the  association,  and  we 
were  all  obliged  to  enter  in  it  the  number  of  acres  we  claimed, 
as  well  as  the  date  of  the  settlement,  and  the  value  of  our 
betterments,  and  the  number  of  acres  cultivated.  The  officers 
of  the  association  were  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  president ;  Charles 
Hoag,  secretary  ;  Edwin  Hedderly,  treasurer  ;  executive  com- 
mittee, Colonel  E.  Case,  Calvin  A.  Tuttle,  William  Dickie, 
Philander  Prescott,  and  Edward  Murphy  ;  board  of  arbitra- 
tion,  Major  Nathaniel   McLean,  U.   S.  Indian  agent,  Anson 


OF  MINNESOTA  ANT)  ITS  PEOPLE.  181 

Northrup,  and  John  Reidliead.  Sessions  were  held  every 
Saturday,  at  the  residence  of  Jolin  H.  Stevens.  Only  in  one 
instance  was  the  association  called  upon  to  resort  to  severe 
measures.  In  that  instance  a  cat-o'-nine-tails  well  laid  on  the 
bare  back  of  the  trespasser  on  a  claim  downi  toward  Minnehaha, 
had  the  desired  elfect.  No  one  else  attemped  to  interfere 
with  or  jump  a  claim.  The  offender  in  this  instance  immedi- 
ately left  the  territory  and  has  never  been  heard  from  since. 
It  is  true,  however,  that  a  good  many  compromises  were 
made,  and  in  some  instances  persons  who  had  disputed  claims 
were  obliged  to  pay  considerable  sums  of  money  to  opposing 
parties  in  order  to  get  jDeacef ul  possession  of  them. 

The  distinguished  Syrian  philanthropist,  Gregory  M. 
Wortabet,  delivered  several  lectures  in  St.  Anthony  during 
the  early  fall.  He  was  a  native  of  Beyroot.  His  lectures 
attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention. 

Sandford  I.  Huse,  of  the  firm  of  Farnham  and  Huse,  and  a 
son  of  Sherburne  and  Elvira  Huse,  died  of  consumption  in 
Detroit,  Michigan,  aged  twenty-five  years.  He  was  on  his 
way  home  from  an  extended  journey  taken  for  the  benefit  of 
his  health. 

On  the  29th  the  news  of  the  death  of  Daniel  Webster  was 
received  at  St.  Anthony. 

L.  M.  Ford,  who  afterwards  became  so  extensively  known 
throughout  the  country  as  a  florist,  pomologist,  and  horticul- 
turist, at  Groveland,  was  engaged  to  teach  a  singing-school  in 
the  village  for  the  ensuing  autumn. 

In  the  appointment  of  officers  for  the  new  United  States 
land-office  at  Sauk  Rapids,  the  President  selected  Charles  W. 
Christmas  for  register.  Aside  from  that  of  postmaster,  this 
was  the  first  Federal  appointment  bestowed  upon  a  citizen  of 
St.  Anthony. 

Lewis  Stone's  farm-house  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  first 
of  November. 

The  handsome  Baptist  church  edifice  was  completed  early 
in  November.  Upon  its  completion  the  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  met  and  decided  that  they,  too, 
would  immediately  erect  a  church  building,  a  determination 
they  strictly  adhered  to  and  in  good  time  accomplished. 

The  members  of  the  Episcopal  church,  as  well  as  all  classes 


182  PER80XAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

of  citizens,  were  greatly  pleased  with  the  advent  of  Eev.  Mr, 
Chamberlain  to  preside  over  the  destinies  of   that   church. 

That  po])ular  pastor,  Rev.  C.  G.  Ames,  of  the  Free  Baptist 
church  and  his  congregation  occupied  the  school  building  for 
a  meeting-house. 

In  October  the  Catholic  church  edifice  was  finished.  The 
lots  on  which  it  was  built  were  given  to  the  church  by  Pierre 
Bottineau.  That  denomination  of  Christians  had  not  only 
the  occasional  wise  teaching  of  Eev.  A.  Eavoux,  but  other 
excellent  members  of  the  priesthood. 

Early  in  November  there  were  no  less  than  three  singing- 
schools  under  way,  all  well  jjatronized.  One  was  taught  by 
B.  E.  Messer,  afterwards  sheriff  of  Hennepin  county. 

With  the  preparatory  department  of  the  University  and 
two  common  schools  and  a  lyceum,  and  lectures  under  the 
auspices  of  the  library  association,  the  prospects  were  favor- 
able for  a  winter  of  profitable  enjoyment.  Tallmadge  Elwell 
on  November  27th  delivered  the  first  lecture  of  the  season. 
His  subject  was  Man  of  the  Nineteenth  century. 

J.  H,  Stevens  and  Co.  sold  out  their  store  to  N.  D.  Shaw 
and  Co.  On  November  12th  the  first  heavy  fall  of  snow 
came.  From  that  day  to  March  there  was  good  sleighing  in 
the  vicinity  of  St.  Anthony. 

There  was  considerable  sickness  in  the  village  during  the 
late  fall  and  early  winter.     Typhoid  and  other  fevers  prevailed. 

On  the  3d  of  November  Albert  H.  Dorr,  one  of  the  most 
active  and  respected  young  business  men  of  the  \dllage,  died. 
On  the  4th  Mrs.  Cordelia,  wife  of  Hon.  J.  L.  Wilson,  died. 
On  the  8tli  Mrs.  Maria  H.,  wife  of  the  merchant  Eufus  P. 
Upton,  died,  aged  twenty-two  years.  A  little  later  Mrs. 
Abbey,  wife  of  Andrew  Foster,  died.  There  was  considera- 
ble speculation  in  regard  to  what  caused  the  dreaded  typhoid 
fever.  Some  attributed  it  to  stagnant  water  in  the  mill-pond  ; 
others  thought  it  was  the  swampy  lands  immediately  in  the 
rear  of  the  village.  The  physicians  expressed  no  opinion  as 
to  its  cause.  The  fever  has  never  ai)peared  on  the  east 
liank  of  the  Falls  in  an  epidemic  form  since. 

I  find  it  quite  imi)ossil)le  to  give  a  correct  list  of  the  names 
of  those  who  settled  in  St.  Anthony  during  the  year  1852. 
There  were  several  honored  new  settlers  of  the  village  and  its 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  IT»  PEOPLE.  183 

immediate  vicinity  during  that  year.  All  made  good  citizens 
and  were  most  cordially  welcomed  by  those  who  had  preceded 
them.  At  the  close  of  the  year  the  citizens  had  reason  to  be 
thankful  for  the  great  prosperity  that  had  attended  them. 

THE   F01{T   SNELLING   MILITARY   KESEEVATION   REDUCED. 

The  news  of  the  passage  of  the  bill  by  congress  reducing 
the  military  reservation  of  Fort  Snelling,  was  received  by  the 
proper  authorities  of  Ramsey  county  (to  which  county  Hen- 
nepin had  been  attached  for  judicial  and  other  purposes)  in 
time  to  give  the  proper  notice  to  participate  in  the  approach- 
ing annual  election  which  was  to  take  place  on  the  11th  of 
October.  The  board  of  county  commissioners  of  Eamsey 
county  directed  us  to  elect  a  full  set  of  county  oflBcers,  and 
designated  the  whole  county  of  Hennepin  as  one  election 
precinct,  with  the  ix)lling-place  at  my  house. 

FIRST   AND  ONLY  UNANIMOUS  ELECTION    IN    HENNEPIN    COUNTY. 

The  citizens  met  the  Saturday  previous  to  the  election  and 
unanimously  nominated  the  following  ticket :  For  Representa- 
tives, Benjamin  H.  Randall,  of  Fort  Snelling,  and  Dr.  A.  E. 
Ames,  of  All  Saints  ;  County  Commissioners,  John  Jackins, 
and  Alex  Moore,  of  All  Saints,  and  Joseph  Dean,  of  Oak 
Grove,  noM'  Bloomington  ;  Sheriff,  Isaac  Brown  ;  Judge  of 
Probate,  Joel  B.  Bassett ;  Register  of  Deeds  and  Clerk  of  the 
board  of  county  commissioners,  John  H.  Stevens  ;  Coroner, 
David  Gorham  ;  Surveyor,  Chas.  W.  Christmas  ;  Assessors, 
Eli  Pettijohn,  Edwin  Hedderly,  and  William  Chambers  ; 
Treasurer,  Deacon  John  S.  Mann  ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Eli 
Pettijohn,  of  Fort  Snelling,  and  Edwin  Hedderly  of  All 
Saints  ;  Constables,  E.  Stanley,  and  C.  C.  Jenks  ;  Supervisor 
of  Roads,  George  Parks. 

The  election  came  off  in  pursuance  of  law  ;  the  parties 
named  above  received  every  vote  that  was  cast ;  each  had 
seventy-one  votes.  The  election  returns  were  sent  to  St. 
Paul,  and  were  canvassed  by  the  board  of  commissioners  of 
Ramsey  county.  That  body  directed  M.  S.  Wilkinson,  then 
their  clerk,  to  issue  to  each  of  the  newly-elected  officers  of  the 
new  county  certificates  of  their  election,  Avith  directions  to 
Messrs.  Jackins,  Moore,  and  Dean,  and  Stevens,  to  meet  on 
the  21st  of  the  same  month  to  qualify,  and  to  complete  the 
organization  of    the  county  in  due  form  according  to   law. 


184  PEESONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

All  the  persons  elected  met  at  my  house  on  that  day  and 
took  the  oath  of  office,  gave  bonds,  and  assumed  the  several 
duties  they  had  been  called  upon  to  perform. 

SELECTION  OP   THE  COUNTY  SEAT  OF  HENNEPIN  COUNTY. 

The  first  business  transacted  by  the  board  of  county  com- 
missioners, after  the  filing  and  approval  of  the  bonds  of  the 
newly-elected  officers,  was  the  selection  of  the  county-seat  of 
the  new  county.  Commissioner  Jackins  moved  that  the  county 
seat  of  Hennepin  county  be  established  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony.  This  motion  was  carried  unani- 
mously. 

THE  COMMISSIONERS  SELECT  A  NAME  FOR  THE  NEW  COUNTY  SEAT. 

Then  the  question  came  up  as  to  what  name  should  be 
given  to  the  place  selected  for  the  county-seat.  Commissioner 
Moore  thought  that  Albion  would  be  a  proper  name.  Another 
commissioner  said  that,  in  view  of  the  extensive  water-power 
the  name  of  Lowell  would  be  suggestive,  as  the  power,  when 
improved,  would  make  this  place  the  Lowell  of  the  west.  A 
vote  being  taken,  the  name  of  Albion  was  selected,  and  the 
clerk  was  directed  to  so  record  it.  He  was  further  instructed 
to  date  all  the  records  of  the  county  under  the  head  of  Albion, 
Hennepin  county,  Minnesota.  After  the  transaction  of  other 
unimportant  business,  the  commissioners  adjourned. 

During  the  adjournment  considerable  feeling  was  exhibited 
by  the  residents  of  the  county,  and  the  almost  unanimous 
sentiment  was  against  the  name  selected  by  the  commission- 
ers for  the  new  county-seat.  Meantime  all  the  necessary 
blanks  for  the  use  of  the  county  had  been  obtained  with  the 
name  of  Albion,  as  per  instructions  of  the  commissioners 
printed  therein. 

Also  during  the  adjournment  of  the  commissioners,  Charles 
Hoag,  a  classical  scholar,  and  Geo.  D.  Bowman,  editor  of  the 
St.  Anthony  Express,  were  determined  to  invent  a  new  name 
for  the  embryo  city.  On  the  5th  of  November  an  article 
appeared  in  the  Express,  written  by  Mr.  Hoag,  advocating 
the  blotting  out  of  the  name  of  Albion  (as  the  commissioners 
had  that  of  All  Saints)  and  substituting  that  of  Minnehapolis. 
This  was  the  first  time  that  the  name  of  the  future  city  ever 
appeared  in  print.     In  fact  Mr.  Hoag  had  only  invented  it  the 


I 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND   ITS    I'EOPLE.  185 

previous  ni^ht  while  in  bed.  In  the  morning;  he  hurried  over 
to  St.  Anthony  and  secured  its  jmblicutiou  in  the  issue  of  the 
paper  of  tlint  date.  The  forms  of  the  Express  had  been 
locked  up  when  Mr.  Hoiiti^  arrived  at  the  office  witli  his  com- 
munication, but  Mr.  Bowman  had  them  uidocked,  and  the 
article  was  put  in  type  and  inserted.  Mr.  Hoa^  had  no  time 
to  considt  any  one,  except  Mr.  Bowman,  in  regard  to  the 
name  proposed,  previous  to  its  appearance  in  the  paper  ;  but 
when  it  did  appear  most  every  one  was  in  favor  of  it. 

In  the  next  issue  of  ihe  paper,  November  12th,  Mr.  Bow- 
man, in  a  leading  editorial,  said  :  "  When  the  communication 
"proposing  this  name  (Minnehapolis)  for  the  promising  town 
"growing  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  was  last  week  handed 
"  us,  we  were  so  much  engaged  as  to  have  no  time  to  com- 
"  ment  on  it.  The  name  is  an  excellent  one,  and  deserves 
"much  favor  by  our  citizens.  The  h  l)eing  silent,  as  our 
"correspondent  recommends,  and  as  custom  would  soon 
"  make  it,  it  is  practical  and  euphonious.  The  nice  adjust- 
'  ment  of  the  Indian  minne  with  the  Greek  polis,  becomes  a 
"  beautiful  compound,  and  finally  it  is,  as  all  names  should  be 
"  when  it  is  possible,  admirably  descriptive  of  the  locality. 
"By  all  means,  we  would  say,  adopt  this  beautiful  and 
"  exceedingly  ajjjjropriate  title,  and  do  not  longer  suffer  abroad 
"  from  connection  with  the  meaningless  and  outlandish  name 
"  of  All  Saints." 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  that  the  editor  totally  ignored, 
as  most  every  one  else  did,  the  selection  of  the  name  by  the 
county  co:nmissioners.  In  short,  from  the  appearance  of 
Mr.  Hoags  article  of  November  5,  the  Anglo-Saxon  Albion 
was  doomed,  and  All  Saints  would  fall  with  it.  It  was  e-vd- 
dent  that  Messrs.  Hoag  and  Bowman  had  won  the  victory. 
It  was  finally  settled  at  an  accidental  meeting  of  most  all  the 
citizens  at  my  house,  in  December,  1852.  It  was  decided  to 
withdraw  the  silent  li,  and  call  the  place  Minneapolis.  It  is 
derived  from  minne,  a  portion  of  the  Dakota  name  of  the  falls, 
and  polis,  the  Greek  for  city,  and  was  allowed  by  all  the  old 
settlers  to  be  a  l)eautiful  cond)ination  of  the  Dakota  and 
classic  Greek.  This  settled  forever  one  of  the  most  trouble- 
some matters  the  original  settlers  in  this  neighborhood  had  to 
contend  with.     It  was  about  the  onl}'  thing  they  could  not 


186  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

at  first  miite  on.  For  some  time  tliey  agreed  to  disagree  on 
any  name.  It  was  happily  settled  to  tlie  entire  satisfaction  of 
all ;  tliougli  when  the  commissioners  found  the  sentiment  was 
against*  All)ion,  they  endorsed  the  name  of  Winona,  but  that 
did  not  strike  the  fancy  of  the  people  ;  hence  in  common 
with  every  one  else  they  accepted  the  inevitable,  and  fell  in 
line  with  the  others. 

SETTLEMENTS    IN    THE    COUNTY. 

During  the  year  1852,  Joseph  Dean,  S.  A.  Goodrich,  O. 
Ames,  A.  L.  Goodrich,  H.  and  M.  S.  Whalon,  E.  Ames,  Wm. 
Chambers,  and  Reuben  B.  Gibson,  took  up  and  occupied 
claims  in  what  is  now  Bloomington.  Eev.  G.  H.  Pond,  Hon. 
Martin  McLeod,  Peter  Quinn,  Moses  Starr  Titus,  and  Victor 
Chatel,  all  connected  Avith  the  Indian  deijartment,  had  resided 
there  for  years.  They  called  the  place  the  Oak  Grove 
Mission. 

The  old  upper  prairie,  now  known  as  Eden  prairie,  this 
year  received  its  first  settlers  in  the  persons  of  John  and 
Samuel  Mitchell,  their  families,  and  their  father  and  mother, 
Hiram  Abbott,  and  David  Livingston,  while  Messrs.  C.  C. 
Garvey,  Samuel  Stough,  Mark  Baldwin,  William  Finch, 
Gilbert  Hanson,  J.  Y.  Draper,  and  Mrs.  Gordon,  selected 
claims  on  and  near  Brown's  creek,  now  known  as  the  Minne- 
haha stream,  which  is  in  the  present  town  of  Richfield. 

Simon  Stevens,  Horace  Webster,  O.  E.  Garrison,  A.  B. 
Robinson,  John  McGalpin,  George  and  Lewis  Bourgeois, 
James  Shaver,  jr.,  and  James  Mountain,  took  uj)  and  occupied 
claims  in  the  lower  Minnetonka  district. 

The  Messrs.  Fuller  l^rothers,  and  C^olonel  Thomas  H.  Hunt 
claimed  the  present  town-site  of  Chaska,  then  in  Hennepin 
but  now  in  Carver  county,  during  the  late  summer  of  this 
year.  Chaska  had  long  been  a  trading-post  belonging  to  the 
Fur  company,  under  the  direction  of  one  of  the  Faribault 
l)rothers.  It  had  also  l)een  the  seat  of  an  excellent  Catholic 
mission-school,  under  Rev.  A.  Ravoux. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year,  Washington  Getchell,  Winslow 
Getchell,  Amos  Berry,  and  Jacob  Longfellow,  made  claims  on 
what  was  then  called  Getclu^rs  i)rairie,  which  is  now  included 
in  the  town  of  ]5rool;lyn.  In  July  of  the  same  year,  Joseph 
Potvin,  Pierre  Bottineau,  Peter   Raiclie,  and   Peter  Garvais, 


OF    MINNKSOTV    AND    IIS    I'HOl'I-K.  187 

made  claims  on  Bottineau  prairie,  which  is  also  inclnded  in 
the  same  town.  Ezra  Hanscom,  N.  S.  Grover,  and  John  AV, 
Brown,  made  cljiiins  the  same  year  in  what  is  m)w  Brooklyn. 

The  first  claim  made  in  wliat  is  now  (^rystal  Lake  was 
dnrins^  this  year.  Tlie  claimants  were  liev.  John  Ware  Dow, 
N.  P.  Warren,  Josiah  Dutton,  AVyman  McCumber,  L.  AVag- 
oner,  and  JohnCJarty.  This  was  the  larii^i^st  settlement  made 
in  one  localit}'  in  Hennepin  county,  during  the  year,  outside 
of  Minneapolis.  Rev.  L.  Palmer  also  made  a  claim  in  the 
town,  which!  think  was  for  his  brother. 

Charles  Miles  was  the  (mly  one  who  made  a  claim  in  what 
is  now  Champliii,  in  1S52,  while  Louis  P.  Garvais,  and  AA"m. 
M.  Ewing,  Avei'e  tlie  only  ones  who  took  up  claims  in  what  is 
now  Mai)le  Grine,  the  same  year. 

Francis  Morrison,  one  of  the  most  enterprising  of  all  the 
old  settlers,  moved  with  his  family  from  Vermont,  late  in  the 
summer,  an<l  selected  and  occupied  a  claim  above  Mr.  Clirist- 
mas's  place,  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  He  still  resides  on  a 
l)ortion  of  it.  Cyrus  C.  Jenks  this  year  occupied  the  claim  of 
J.  Draper.     Mr.  Jenks  resides  in  Grand  Forks  county,  Dakota. 

As  far  as  I  can  ascertain  or  remember  at  this  time',  the 
foregoing  are  the  names  of  all  the  men  who  settled  in  the 
county,  that  year,  outside  of  Minneapolis.  Many  of  these 
persons  had  l)een  former  residents  of  St.  Anthony.  A  few 
were  from  Minnt^apolis.  They  went  out  into  the  wilderness 
to  secure  new  homes  and  open  up  farms.  Minneajoolisjjroper 
received  but  very  few  new-coim>rs  this  year.  The  claims  had 
all  been  previously  occupied.  There  were  no  lots  laid  out 
for  any  one  to  buy  or  Imild  upon,- and  there  was  no  business 
that  would  i)ay  to  follow  ;  hence  no  immigrati(m  ;  but  the  sur- 
rounding country  in  the  near  vicinity  of  the  town  was  satis- 
factorily occui)ied  by  an  excellent  class  of  innnigrants. 

There  was  not  to  exceed,  at  the  close  of  the  year, 
twelve  dwelling-houses  u[)on  the  original  town-site,  and  none 
conveniently  near  each  other,  as  they  were  built  on  the  claims 
taken  by  the  own(>rs,  and  could  not  l>e  very  close  neighbors, 
though  in  a  few  cases  the  j)arties  owning  the  claims  would 
build  near  the  boundaries  of  their  line,  instead  of  near  the 
center,  so  they  could  be  near  neighbors.  AA'e  had  learned 
from  experience  that  we  could  not  expect  any  more  improve- 


188  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

ments  in  our  immediate  vicinity  until  the  title  to  our  land 
had  been  secured  from  the  government,  and  it  was  laid  out 
into  lots  ;  so  Ve  were  not  disappointed  that  there  was  no 
increase  in  the  number  of  buildings,  and  only  a  very  limited 
number  of  persons  added  to  our  population,  until  the  spring 
of  1855,  when  we  entered  our  land,  and  received  a  good,  solid 
title  to  our  homes,  at  the  United  States  land-office  ;  but  in  the 
meantime,  while  we  remained  in  a  stationary  condition,  the 
country  around  us  prospered  beyond  our  utmost  expectations. 
For  once  in  our  history  the  rural  districts  went  far  ahead  of 
the  villages  in  improvements,  which  was  perhaps  all  the  better 
for  us  ;  because  when  we  were  in  a  condition  to  start  our 
town,  we  had  a  solid  foundation  to  build  upon,  and  had  a 
prosperous  country  to  back  us  ;  which  proves  that  it  is  desir- 
able to  have  the  country  go  ahead  of  the  village,  rather  than. 
that  the  village  should  go  ahead  of  the  country. 

The  whole  taxable  property  in  the  county,  according  to  the 
returns  of  the  assessors,  w^as  $43,605.  The  commissioners 
laid  a  tax  leA^y  of  thirteen  mills  on  a  dollar,  which  would 
return  a  revenue  of  .^566  87.  When  the  collector  (Sheriff 
Brown)  returned  the  tax -book,  in  February,  containing  the 
assessments,  he  turned  over  to  the  county  treasurer  (Deacon 
Mann )  $566  86 — all  but  one  cent  having  been  collected. 

The  first  petition  presented  to  the  board  of  county  com- 
missioners was  from  A.  E.  Ames  and  others  praying  for  the 
establishment  of  a  county-road  from  Little  Falls  creek  to 
Crystal  lake.  The  petition  was  granted,  and  Colonel  E.  Case 
and  William  Dickie,  w^itli  the  county  surveyor,  were  appointed 
commissioners  to  locate  the  road.  The  second  petition  which 
was  presented  at  the  same-  session,  November  29th,  was  from 
Cyrus  C  Jenks  and  othei's  ])raying  for  the  organization  of  a 
school-district  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Falls.  The  petition 
was  granted,  and  the  whole  county  was  organized  into  school- 
district  number  one.  The  first  school  in  district  number  one 
was  opened  in  a  little  building  belonging  to  Anson  Northrap, 
which  was  near  the  corner  of  Third  avenue  south  and  Second 
street,  in  December.  The  teacher  was  Miss  Mary  E.  Miller. 
Some  twenty  pupils  were  in  constant  attendance  during  the 
winter.  The  school-trustees  were  Edward  Murphy,  A.  E. 
Ames  and  John  H.  Stevens.     Allen  Harmon"  clerk  of  district. 


CHAPTER   XXYIII. 

FIRST  REAL   START   FOR   A   PROSPEROUS   RACE. 

During  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  the  most 
liopeful  indication  of  the  future  rapidly-increasing  prosperity 
of  the  embryo  city,  new-bom  town,  and  recently-cliristened 
infant  Minneapolis,  was  the  nuptial  ceremonies  that  occurred 
during  that  year  of  romantic  courtship  and  wedded  bliss  ;  the 
like  of  which,  considering  the  small  number  of  inhabitants,  is 
a  marvel.  Many  who  came  here  were  in  the  prime  of  early, 
vigorous  manliood  ;  or  fresh,  beautiful  womanhood  ;  and  were 
unmarried.  They  were  in  a  new  country.  Their  surroundings 
were  novel,  and  long  life  seemed  before  them.  It  was  a  land 
of  wonder,  with  a  lovely  landscape  and  virgin  soil.  There  was 
exhilaration  in  the  air  that  caused  youthful  blood  to  course 
more  rapidly,  bringing  strength  to  limb,  glow  to  cheek,  sparkle 
to  eye,  sprightliness  to  step,  natural  grace  to  every  movement, 
and  an  overflow  of  love  in  every  heart.  In  the  light  of  possi- 
bilities open  to  them,  each  was  a  hero,  or  heroine.  The 
invigorating  air,  blooming  prairies,  fresh  forests,  smiling  lakes 
and  laughing  waterfalls,  made  it  an  Eden  to  lovers,  where  the 
wild  roar  of  the  cataract  was  an  inspiring  accompaniment  to 
their  wooing.  Those  fair  united  couples  gave  an  early  boom 
to  our  prosperity  that  has  exceeded  their  wildest  imaginings. 
The  frosts  of  thirty-six  winters  have  powdered  the  locks,  and 
care  for  loved  ones  has  wrinkled  the  brow,  of  each  Adam  and 
Eve  of  that  paradise  ;  but  duplicates  of  their  fresh  faces  and 
lithe  forms,  to  the  third  generation,  ornament  our  streets  ;  and 
descendants  are  now,  as  ancestors  were  then,  keeping  their 


190  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

loved  liome  at  St.  Anthony  Falls  in  the  front  rank  of  enlight- 
ened progress. 

Mr.  Edgar  Folsom  and  Mrs.  Mary  Stowell  took  the  initiative 
for  a  honeymoon,  followed  in  quick  succession  by  Shelton 
Hollister  and  Annie  Lewis,  J.  C.  Lawrence  and  Hannah  Stim- 
son,  William  D.  Garland  and  Sarah  E.  Dorr,  John  M.  Dur- 
man  and  Louisa  M.  Reidhead,  Simon  B.  Bean  and  Margaret 
B.  Munson,  A.  K.  Hartwell  and  Maria  N.  Smith,  George  D. 
Bowman  and  Miss  J.  P.  Derby,  Z.  E.  B.  Nash  and  Octa\da  M. 
Mills,  ^Y.  H.  Kean  and  Mrs.  Florentine  Kean,  E.  L.  Hall  and 
Urania  Lawrence,  Edw'd  P.  Shaw  and  Sarah  C.  Torrey,  Rich- 
ard Lowell  and  Sophronia  M.  Smith,  Isaac  Gilpatrick  and 
Sarah  Sinclair,  Casper  Kopp  and  Delena  Eisennacker,  An- 
drew J.  Foster  and  Mary  W.  Averill,  Robert  J,  Irwin  and 
Jerusha  Ann  Berry,  Amos  P.  Bean  and  Eveline  E.  Huse, 
J.  C.  Shipley  and  May  F.  Barrows,  L.  A.  Foster  and  Jane 
Richardson,  Geo.  E.  Huy  and  Mary  Ticknor,  D.  L.  Paine  and 
Sarah  Berry.  In  the  light  of  the  above  showing  for  the  young 
village,  can  we  wonder  at  the  extraordinary  increase  of  the 
population  at  an  early  day  around  the  Falls  ?  It  is  certain 
we  can  date  back  to  that  period  the  commencement  of  our 
prosperity. 

INDUSTRIAL,    SOCIAL   AND   POLITICAL   EVENTS   OF    1853. 

Charles  King,  a  former  merchant  of  New  York,  arrived 
from  that  city  with  his  family  and  invested  largely  in  real- 
estate,  purchasing  the  interest  of  Elmer  Tyler.  The  latter, 
after  accomplishing  a  good  work  in  lending  a  helping  hand  at 
an  early  day  in  developing  the  resources  of  St.  Anthony, 
returned  to  Chicago  and  died  in  that  city  several  years  since. 
His  name  will  always  be  remembered  in  the  history  of  the  old 
village  of  ^t.  Anthony  from  the  fact  that  he  piirchased  and 
introduced  the  first  complete  newspaper  outfit  from  which  the 
Express  made  its  appearance,  Mr.  King  resided  several 
years  in  the  village.  He  then  disposed  of  his  property  and 
moved  to  Washington,  D.  0.,  and  became  a  prominent  pension 
agent. 

The  fourth  territorial  legislature  met  in  St.  Paul,  January 
5th.  Hon.  Martin  McLeod,  of  Hennepin  county,  was  elected 
president  of  the  council.  This  excellent  selection  gave  much 
satisfaction  to  the  people  of  the  new  county,  as  they  were 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  191 

proud  of  their  talented  member.  To  Mr.  McLeod,  who  was 
chairman  oi  the  committee  on  schools  in  the  council,  at  the 
first  session  of  the  territorial  legislature,  and  to  Rev.  E.  D, 
Neill,  the  first  superintendent  of  common  schools  in  the  ter- 
ritory, the  children  of  the  early  settlers  are  greatly  indebted 
for  tlie  efforts  tluit  were  made  in  their  behalf  ;  and  the 
people  of  the  state  to-day  are  under  deep  obligations  to  those 
early  and  able  advocates  of  the  common-school  system  of 
Minnesota.  If  for  no  other  services  rendered  the  state,  foj; 
these  alone  they  should  ever  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance 
by  the  i)eople  of  the  state. 

Dr.  David  Day,  then  a  resident  of  Long  Prairie,  Todd 
county,  after  a  contest  of  tAvo  weeks,  was  elected  speaker  of 
the  House.  The  initiator}-  steps  of  the  organization  of  the 
house  were  taken  in  Minneapolis  the  day  before  the  election 
of  Dr.  Day  to  the  speakershij).  Dr.  Day  was  at  the  time  the 
resident  physician  of  the  Indian  department  at  Long  Prairie, 
which  was  then  the  headquarters  of  the  Wiimebagoes.  The 
members  of  the  legislature  at  that  session  from  St.  Anthony 
were  AVm.  H.  Larned  of  the  council ;  and  E.  P.  Kussell  and 
G.  B.  Dutton  of  the  house.  Hennepin  county  was  repre- 
sented by  Martin  McLeod  in  the  council,  and  A.  E.  Ames  and 
B.  H.  Randall  in  the  house.  With  such  excellent  delegations 
it  is  not  necessary  to  say  that  the  interests  of  the  people  were 
in  safe  hands,  at  least  as  far  as  their  wants  in  necessary  leg- 
islation were  concerned. 

For  some  unaccountable  reason,  out  of  the  fourteen  officers 
elected  in  both  houses,  such  as  secretary,  clerk  of  the  house, 
sergeant-at-arms,  door-keeper,  and  the  like,  none  were  bestowed 
on  the  residents  of  either  bank  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

On  the  15th  of  January,  Miss  Eliza,  eldest  daughter  of  John 
P.  Miller,  died  at  the  residence  of  her  parents  in  what  is  now 
south  Minneapolis,  aged  fifteen  years.  She  was  a  young  lady 
of  much  promise. 

The  citizens  of  St.  Anthony  were  much  jjI eased  with  the 
addition  to  their  niimbers  of  S.  M.  Tracy,  who  subsequently 
for  many  years  was  one  of  the  most  active  citizens  of  that 
village. 

The  long  winter  months  passed  without  excitement  ;  the 
citizens  generally  on  each   side   of  the  river  pursued  their 


192  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

usual  occupations.  Good  reports  came  from  the  pineries  in 
regard  to  the  favorable  condition  of  the  lumber  operations. 
The  schools  were  well  patronized,  and  the  numerous  lectures 
were  well  attended.  The  Central  Hall  recently  built  was 
convenient  for  public  gatherings.  Messrs.  E.  P.  Mills  and 
Z.  E.  B.  Nash  occupied  the  lower  part  of  the  building  for 
their  stores.  This  was  the  first  public  hall  erected  in  St. 
Anthony. 

«  The  first  district  court  held  in  Minneapolis,  after  the  organ- 
ization of  Hennepin  county,  convened  Monday  morning,  April 
4th,  Judge  B.  B.  Meeker,  presiding.  The  county  commis- 
sioners secured  the  parlor  in  Anson  Northrup's  house  for  the 
main  court-room,  and  two  bed-rooms  in  the  same  house,  for 
the  jury- rooms.  There  were  in  attendance  on  that  memorable 
occasion,  Hon.  Henry  L.  Moss,  U.  S.  district-attorney  ;  War- 
ren Bristol,  county-attorney  ;  Joseph  Warren  Furber,  U.  S. 
marshal ;  Isaac  Brown,  sheriff  ;  Joseph  H.  Canney,  deputy 
sheriff  ;  Sweet  W.  Case,  clerk  of  the  court ;  with  the  follow- 
ing grand- jury  : 

Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  foreman  ;  Joseph  Dean,  Eli  Pettijohn, 
Moses  Starr  Titus,  Edwin  Hedderly,  H.  Fletcher,  Wm.  G. 
Jones,  John  Jackins,  John  S.  Wales,  Allen  Harmon,  John 
Bedue,  John  C.  Bohannan,  Lorenzo  B.  Warren,  John  S. 
Mann,  Waterman  Stimson,  William  Hamilton,  A.  L.  Cum- 
mings,  Augustus  P.  Thompson,  and  R.  B.  Gibson. 

Pettit-jury  :  Geo.  N.  AVales,  William  Dwinels,  David  H. 
Smith,  Elijah  Austin,  Norman  Jenkins,  Simeon  Odell,  John 
Smithyman,  J.  M.  Snow,  John  P.  Miller,  Charles  Hoag,  Solo- 
mon K.  Shultz,  John  Wass,  Hiram  Prescott,  Hiram  Burling- 
ham,  Francis  Knott,  Joseph  C.  Hutchins,  Willis  G.  Moffett, 
John  Gairty,  Wm.  G.  Tuttle,  Calvin  Church,  James  Brown, 
Silas  Pease,  John  Mitchell,  Allen  L.  Goodrich,  Edward 
Stanley,  David  Bickford,  William  Chambers,  William  Jones, 
James  Mountain,  Charles  Moseau,  and  Wm.  W.  Getchell. 

The  court  was  in  session  for  one  week,  awaiting  the  action 
of  the  grand  jury,  who  were  mostly  engaged  in  ferreting  out 
many  supposed  violations  of  the  liquor-license  law.  There 
were  no  civil  cases  of  moment  tried  before  the  court,  and  only 
three  criminal  matters  ;  one  an  indictment  the  grand- jury 
brought  against  Hiram  Armstrong  for  wilfully  and  maliciously 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND   ITS   PEOrLE.  193 

injuring  the  i)ersc)nal  property  of  a  neighbor  ;  and  two 
inilictnients  against  E(hnnnd  Bresette,  one  for  selling  whisky 
to  the  Indians,  and  the  other  for  introducing  whisky  into  the 
Indian  country.  Isaac  Atwater,  who  Avas  the  lawyer  for  both 
the  alleged  criminals,  cleared  them  on  trial  before  the  court. 
Those  were  the  first  indictments  ever  found  by  the  grand  jury 
in  Hennepin  county  ;  and  so  far  as  civil  cases  were  concerned 
it  was  too  early  for  litigation.  The  citizens  of  the  county  had 
not  sufficient  business  relations  with  each  other,  previous  to 
holding  the  court,  for  the  incubation  of  disputes  ;  and  besides, 
they  were  not  generally  disposed  to  lawsuits.  In  the  absence 
of  courts  they  had  followed  the  precepts  of  those  who  had 
preceded  them  into  the  territory  ;  and  if  credit  had  been 
obtained,  it  was  considered  a  debt  of  honor.  As  a  general 
rule,  the  first  settlers  of  the  new  county  were  not  abundantly 
supplied  with  this  world's  goods,  and  they  felt  too  poor  to 
resort  to  lawsuits,  even  if  a  sufficient  cause  existed  for  such  a 
course.  In  those  early  days  people  could  not  afPord  to  be 
dishonest  with  each  other  in  their  dealings.  If  a  person  pur- . 
loosely  committed  a  mean  act  in  his  relations  with  his  neighbor, 
public  opinion  and  public  scorn  were  so  strongly  exjjressed 
against  him  that  the  punishment  administered  in  this  manner 
was  worse  than  if  he  had  been  tried  and  convicted  in  a  court 
and  imprisoned. 

The  lawyers  in  attendance  at  the  first  court  were  John  W. 
North,  Isaac  Atwater,  D.  A.  Secombe,  E.  L.  Hall,  Abraham 
R.  Dodge,  Geo.  W.  Prescott,  Jas.  H.  Fridley,  and  A.  D.  Shaw, 
all  of  St.  Anthony.  Hennepin  county  had  at  that  time  oidy 
a  solitary  resident  lawyer,  Warren  Bristol,  who  represented 
the  county  as  its  attorney. 

Immediately  on  the  adjouniment  of  court,  a  fearful  and 
unprecedented  snow-storm  raged  with  great  violence. 

On  the  10th  of  April  Orrin  W.  Rice,  then  a  merchant  in 
St.  Anthony,  was  appointed  postmaster  in  the  place  of  Ard 
Godfrey.  Mr.  Rice  was  a  brother  of  Hon.  H.  M.  and  E. 
Rice,  of  St.  Paul.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  J.  H.  Brown, 
of  St.  Anthony.  Mr.  Rice  was  unusually  esteemed  by  the 
people  of  that  village.  His  death  in  early  life  from  that 
dread  disease,  consumption,  was  greatly  regretted  by  his 
numerous  acquaintances. 


194  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTlOlsS 

Immigration  was  very  heavy  tliis  siiiing.  The  recently 
ceded  Indian  land  in  Hennepin  county  received  its  full  share. 
As  usual,  the  class  of  immigrants  were  of  a  very  superior 
order. 

A  singular  accident  occurred  at  Captain  Tapper's  ferry  on 
April  20th.  Joseph  N.  Barber,  one  of  the  new  settlers  in 
Minneapolis,  had  j^urchased  a  choice  yoke  of  oxen.  In 
crossing  the  ferry  they  backed  out  of  the  boat  and  were 
carried  over  the  precipice.  No  part  or  parcel  of  the  oxen 
were  ever  found.  A  log  chain  was  fastened  in  the  staple  of 
the  yoke  on  the  oxen.  It  is  supposed  the  hook  of  the  chain 
became  attached  to  a  rock  down  in  the  deep  water,  at  the 
immediate  foot  of  the  precipice,  and  held  the  poor  brutes 
some  forty  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  water.  In  most 
instances,  when  animals  were  carried  over  the  Falls,  their 
bodies  would  be  seen  immediately  after  the  occurrence  in  the 
rapids  towards  Spirit  island. 

A  MAN  GOES  OVER  THE  FALLS. 

So  far  as  known  only  one  man  was  ever  carried  over  the 
Falls  who  came  out  alive.  In  this  instance  not  a  hair  of  his 
head  was  injured.  Even  a  bottle  of  whisky  he  had  in  his 
pocket  at  the  time  was  not  broken.  The  name  of  the  man 
was  Michael  Hickey.  He  was  engaged  in  working  for  Anson 
Northrup,  on  Boom  island.  Hickey  used  to  cross  Captain 
Tapper's  ferry  every  morning  on  his  way  to  Boom 
island,  and  recross  every  evening  on  his  way  to  Mr.  Northrup's 
residence.  He  was  occasionally  given  to  his  cups,  and  would 
once  in  a  while  punish  a  glass  of  whisky,  perhajjs  half  a 
dozen  of  them  with  great  rapidity.  One  Saturday  evening, 
while  on  his  way  home,  in  passing  a  saloon  in  St.  Anthony, 
he  suddenly  became  imbued  with  the  idea  of  securing  a  bottle 
of  whisky  to  take  to  his  home  in  Minneapolis  for  Sunday  use. 
The  more  he  considered  the  matter  the  more  determined 
he  became  to  do  so.  He  visited  the  saloon  for  the  purpose  of 
ratifying  his  conclusions.  The  whisky  was  purchased,  paid 
for,  and  deposited  in  his  pocket.  The  saloon-keeper  treated 
Mike  for  calling  on  him.  Then  Mike  treated  the  saloon- 
keeper and  drank,  himself,  on  the  occasion.  Others  came  in 
just  at  that  time.  Mike  treated  them  and  they  treated  Mike. 
By  midnight  Mike  was  full  and  en   route  for  his  home  ovei- 


OF  MINNESOTA  J».ND  ITS  PEOPLE  195 

the  river.  On  arriving  at  the  ferry,  he  fonnd  that  Captain 
Tapper  had  retired  for  the  night.  He  knew  of  no  reason 
why  he  should  not  take  one  of  the  captain's  small  boats  and 
ferry  himself  over  the  river.  He  launched  the  lioat,  but 
instead  of  making  the  west-side  landing,  he  was  carried  over 
the  Falls.  Early  next  morning  a  band  of  Wiimebago  Indians 
in  making  the  portage  of  the  Falls,  discovered  a  white  man, 
or  his  ghost,  on  Spirit  island.  They  immediately  informed 
Mr.  Northrup  and  myself  of  their  discovery.  Captain  Tapper 
had  just  informed  me  that  some  one  had  stolen  one  of  his 
boats  during  the  night.  We  sent  for  the  captain,  and  all  three 
proceeded  down  to  the  Falls.  There  stood  Mike  on  the  bank 
of  Spirit  island,  without  a  blemish.  Sending  for  ropes,  we 
safely  landed  one  on  the  island.  Mike  made  it  fast  to  himself, 
and  we  hauled  him  safely  ashore.  After  he  was  landed,  he 
thought  of  his  bottle  of  whisky,  which  was  in  his  pocket. 
He  had  not,  during  his  imprisonment  on  the  island,  remem- 
bered that  such  a  luxury  was  on  his  person.  Taking  the 
bottle  from  his  pocket,  and  drawing  the  cork  for  the  first 
time,  he  said:  "Wasn't  it  lucky  the  cratur  (meaning  the 
whisky)  recaived  no  harm  in  making  the  bloody  trip  !"  evi- 
dently thinking  that  his  escape  from  injurj'  was  second  in 
consideration  to  that  of  the  whisky.  Poor  Mike  !  He  was 
an  honest,  faithful  servant.  He  has  been  dead  for  more  than 
a  score  of  years. 

On  the  6th  of  May  Mr.  Eichai-d  Rogers  completed  his  mill 
for  grinding  wheat.  It  was  small,  but  perfect.  Mr.  Rogers, 
being  a  millwright,  superintended  the  building  of  it  in  person. 
This  was  the  first  flour  mill  erected  at  the  Falls,  if  we  except 
the  old  government  mill  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  From 
this  small  effort  of  Mr.  Rogers  in  1853,  what  a  vast  expansion 
in  tlie  flour  industry  around  the  Falls  !  From  that  small 
beginning  the  milling  interest  of  the  Falls  to-day  excels  that 
of  any  portion  of  the  known  globe. 

Another  dreadful  snowstorm  visited  us  on  the  18th  of  May, 
fortunately  without  serious  injury  to  the  growing  crops. 

The  sjn-ing  of  this  year  was  a  very  j)aradise  to  those  who 
had  money  to  loan.  Real-estate  doubled  in  value  so  rapidly 
that  the  interest  of  money  ruled  high.  For  instance,  the 
Express  of   May  20th  says  :  "  Money  is   growing   scarce.     It 


196  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

can  be  obtaiuecl  on  undoubted  real-estate  security  at  five  per 
cent  per  month.  Good  paper  endorsed  with  responsible 
names  at  sixty  and  ninety  days,  discounts  at  ten  per  cent  per 
month."  It  M^as  claimed  that  money  could  be  made  by  pay- 
ing such  excessive  rates  of  interest ;  but  never  having  had 
any  personal  experience  in  borrowing  or  loaning  money  in 
those  days,  I  cannot  speak  definitely  in  regard  to  the  results, 
further  than  that  those  who  loaned  the  money  almost  invari- 
ably at  the  proper  time  received  the  interest  and  principal 
from  those  who  had  borrowed.  Even  if  a  loss  should  occa- 
sionally occur,  the  money  loaned  had  received  such  high  rates 
of  interest  they  could  afford  to  lose. 

The  new  postmaster  had  hardly  warmed  his  seat  in  the 
office  before  the  all-absorbing  topic  of  the  failure  of  the 
arrival  of  the  mails  commenced  being  discussed.  On  the  18th 
of  May  a  public  meeting  convened  in  Central  hall,  with  Jona- 
than Estes  in  the  chair,  and  Dr.  C.  L.  Anderson,  secretary, 
for  the  purpose  of  devising  plans  to  secure  the  mails  from  St. 
Paul  when  due.  Of  course  the  postmaster  was  not  to  blame 
for  the  failures.  He  entered  a  protest  to  the  department,  as 
his  predecessor  had  done,  at  the  failure  of  the  contractors  to 
supply  the  office  with  mail  matter.  On  an  investigation  it 
appeared  there  were  rival  stage  companies  between  St.  Paul 
and  St.  Anthony,  and  the  one  that  had  the  contract  to  carry 
the  mail  was  afraid,  if  they  stopped  at  the  St.  Paul  office  to 
get  it,  the  other  company  would  secure  the  passengers.  This 
game  was  shortly  effectually  blocked,  and  the  complaints  in 
relation  to  the  failure  of  the  mails  ceased,  and  with  few 
exceptions,  thereafter  so  long  as  St.  Anthony  had  a  postoffice, 
the  mails  were  delivered  promptly. 

The  new  crop  of  logs  commenced  coming  into  the  St. 
Anthony  mill-boom  as  early  as  the  18tli  of  May,  which  was 
several  days  ahead  of  the  usual  time.  There  was  a  good 
stage  of  water  in  both  branches  of  Rum  river,  as  well  as  in 
the  Mississii)i3i,  for  driving  logs  this  season,  and  rapid  work 
was  made  in  landing  them  in  the  boom.  What  is  unusual,  a 
clean  drive  was  made. 

The  Express  of  May  27th  announced  the  arrival  of  a  full- 
blooded  Devon  bull  and  a  cow  of  the  same  breed,  imported 
from   the   east  into  Hennepin  countj'.     These  animals  were 


b 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  107 

the  property  of  Messrs.  J.  H.  Stevens  and  John  P.  Miller. 
They  paid  two  thousand  dollars  for  them.  This  was  the  first 
imi)ortation  of  pure  blooded  stock  into  Hennepin  county. 
The  beneficial  results  expected  in  imi)rovinjjf  the  breed  of 
cattle  in  the  county,  in  this  instance  at  least,  failed  to  mate- 
rialize. From  that  day  I  have  never  believed  that  the  Devon 
was  a  good  breed  of  stock  to  proi)agate  in  Minnesota.  Such, 
however,  was  not  the  o])inion  of  Hon.  Jose])h  Haskell,  one  of 
the  pioneer  farmers  of  AVashington  county.  He  imi)orted 
choice  Devon  stock  previous  to  the  importation  into  Hennepin 
county,  and  met  with  a  good  deal  of  encouragement  in  breed- 
ing thein.  While  the  Devon  is  the  most  ancient  of  all  pure- 
blooded  stock,  as  a  general  rule  there  are  other  breeds  that 
seem  to  do  better  in  this  climate. 

On  June  3d  S.  M.  Tracy  of  St.  Anthony  was  appointed 
JTidge  of  probate  of  Ramsey  county  in  place  of  Judge  Wm.  H. 
Welch  who  had  received  from  President  Pierce  the  important 
judicial  appointment  of  chief  justice  of  Minnesota.  Judge 
Welch  had  resided  in  St.  Anthony  for  over  a  year  at  the  time 
of  his  elevation  to  the  supreme  bench  of  the  territory.  He 
came  to  Minnesota  from  Michigan.  His  appointment  was 
received  with  much  satisfaction  by  his  fellow-citizens  in  St. 
Anthony.  He  was  an  able  jurist,  and  a  pure,  impartial  judge. 
He  was  the  father  of  Major  Abraham  E.  Welch,  one  of  the 
most  promising  young  officers  in  the  volunteer  service,  who 
commanded  the  Third  Minnesota  regiment  at  the  battle  of 
Wood  lake,  September  23,  1862,  in  which  engagement  he 
received  a  serious  wound.  Both  the  father  and  his  brave  son 
died  many  years  since. 

President  Pierce,  soon  after  his  accession  to  the  Presidency, 
March  4th,  made  the  following  Federal  appointments  for 
Minnesota  :  Governor,  Willis  A.  Gorman,  of  Indi<ina  ;  Secre- 
tary, J.  Travis  Ros.ser,  of  Virginia  ;  Chief  Justice,  Wm.  H. 
Welch,  of  St.  Anthony,  Minnesota ;  Associate  Justices,  Moses 
Sherburne,  of  Maine,  and  Andrew  J.  Chatfield,  of  WiscoHsin. 
In  the  assignment  of  the  different  judicial  districts  of  the 
territory  to  the  new  judges,  Hennepin  county  was  made  a 
part  of  the  Third  judicial  district,  and  Judge  Chatfield  was 
selected  to  preside  over  it.  Judge  Chatfield  proved  to  be  a 
very  popular  judge.     For  "many  sessions,  when  holding  court 


198  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

in  Minneapolis,  he  was  a  welcome  guest  in  my  house,  and  was 
considered  by  my  family  almost  as  one  of  their  most  favored 
members.  Chief  Justice  Welch  was  assigned  to  the  Fourth 
judicial  district,  which  necessitated  his  removal  with  his 
family  to  Red  Wing.  Judge  Sherburne  was  assigned  to  the 
Second  judicial  district,  with  headquarters  at  St.  Paul.  He 
also  proved  to  be  an  able,  impartial  judge.  He  was  father-in- 
law  of  Hon.  Geo.  W.  Prescott,  one  of  St.  Anthony's  most 
respected  citizens,  who  subsequently  became  editor-in-chief 
of  the  Northwestern  Democrat,  the  second  newspaper  that 
made  its  appearance  in  St.  Anthony,  July  13th,  1853.  Mr. 
Prescott  became  clerk  of  the  United  States  court  on  the 
admission  of  the  state  into  the  Union,  which  office  he  held 
for  many  years. 

To  Hon.  Wm.  W.  Wales,  one  of  the  most  cherished  of  St. 
Anthony's  earliest  citizens,  were  the  people  indebted  for  the 
introduction  of  early  vegetables  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Falls. 
As  early  as  1852  he  proved,  by  experimenting  in  his  garden, 
that  there  was  no  necessity  for  the  importation  by  the  steam- 
boats from  the  lower  country,  in  the  late  spring  and  early 
summer,  of  such  vegetables  as  asparagus,  lettuce,  radishes, 
and  other  varieties,  so  welcome  on  our  tables  after  the  long 
winter.  Mr.  Wales,  aside  from  being  an  accomplished  horti- 
culturist, has  proved  by  his  long  and  useful  life  at  the  Falls, 
to  be  a  philanthropist,  and  a  Christian  gentleman,  who  com- 
mands the  entire  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens.  For  many 
years  he  was  postmaster  in  St.  Anthony.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  most  cherished  members  of  the  territorial  legislature, 
having  been  elected  to  the  council  in  1856.  He  is  always 
engaged  in  working  for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow-men. 

In  the  Express  of  June  17th  appeared  the  following  :  "  Im- 
"  portant  changes  have  taken  place  in  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony 
"  during  the  past  two  years.  An  immense  mass  of  rock, 
"about  the  center,  was  broken  olf  last  winter  and  fell,  making 
"  a  sort  of  rapids,  rather  than  actual  Falls,  in  that  part  of  the 
"  cataract.  The  theory,  that  in  course  of  time  the  Falls  of 
"St.  Anthony  will  so  wear  away  as  to  become  only  rapids, 
"seems  highly  probable  from  what  is  now  taking  place  from 
"day  to  day."  It  was  supposed  at  the  time  mentioned  that 
the  large  inimber  of  logs  running  over  the  Falls  was  one 


I 


or    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    I'KOPLE.  199 

cause  of  the  breaking  ofp  of  the  rock.  They  woukl  jam  up 
on  the  precipice,  almost  damming  the  current,  and  when 
removed  by  the  pressure  of  high  water  a  portion  of  the  rock 
on  which  the  millions  of  feet  of  logs  were  lodged  would  go 
with  them  ;  making  an  explosion  not  uidike  an  earthquake. 

Several  fearful  thunder-storms,  with  lioavy  wind,  passed 
over  the  twin  villages  at  the  Falls  in  tlie  eaj-ly  summer  of  this 
year.  On  the  14th  of  June  Rev.  Mr.  Chamberlain,  rector  of 
the  Episcopal  church,  was  struck  by  lightning,  in  his  house, 
which  came  near  terminating  fatally.  During  the  same  day 
the  dwelling-house  of  Geo.  W.  Prescott  was  badly  damaged 
by  the  electric  storm.  This  was  the  first  time  that  any  of  the 
citizens  of  St.  Anthony,  or  any  of  their  houses,  had  received 
serious  injury  from  the  storms  that  were  so  frequent  in  the 
territory  at  an  early  day. 

On  the  18th  of  May  the  colony,  under  the  ausjjices  of  Geo. 
M.  Bertram,  of  Grand  street.  New  York,  arrived  at  Excelsior, 
on  Lake  Minnetonka.  On  the  14th  of  June  the  members 
held  their  first  meeting  in  the  embryo  village,  with  their 
president,  Mr.  Bertram,  in  the  chair.  He  congratulated  the 
members  on  their  safe  arrival  at  their  new  home.  A  com- 
mittee consisting  of  Messrs.  Lemuel  Griffiths,  James  Phillips, 
C.  B.  McGrath,  H.  Birmingham,  S.  G.  Staples,  and  H.  Blake, 
was  appointed  on  resolutions.  In  making  their  report  the 
committee  referred  to  the  great  beauty  of  the  location,  and 
the  extreme  fertility  of  the  soil,  expressing  a  hope  that  in  the 
near  future  the  banks  of  Minnetonka  lake  would  be  settled 
by  an  industrious  people. 

A  rapid  journey  from  St.  Paul  to  Chicago  is  recorded  on 
the  6th  of  July.  It  was  made  in  scant  three  days.  The 
editor  who  copied  the  item  recording  the  incident,  from  the 
Chicago  journal,  added  the  incredulous  words,  "  That  will  do !" 
While  the  journey  is  now  made  with  ease  in  palace  sleeping 
cars  in  less  than  twelve  hours,  or  in  about  one-sixth  of  the 
extraordinary  time  then  recorded,  the  usual  time  from  St. 
Paul  to  Chicago,  in  those  days  by  river  to  Galena,  and  stage 
to  Chicago,  was  about  four  days,  though  frequentlj'  the  jour- 
ney M-oukl  be  extended  to  five  days.  During  the  portion  of 
the  year  when  there  was  no  navigation  on  the  river  it  of 
course  required  a  longer  time  to  make  the  journey. 


200  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

On  the  9tli  of  July,  Judge  A.  G.  Cliatfield,  the  newly- 
appointed  judge,  held  a  special  term  of  court  in  the  little 
parlor  of  my  house.  The  only  business  transacted  was  the 
discharge  of  two  soldiers  from  the  army  stationed  at  Fort 
Snelling.  They  enlisted  in  the  service  before  they  were  of 
suitable  age,  at  an  eastern  recruiting-office.  They  belonged 
to  families  in  the  highest  walk  of  life,  and  joined  the  army 
under  peculiar  circumstances.  Their  names  were  H.  O. 
Billings  and  Wyman  Williams.  Their  parents  followed  them 
out  west  and  secured  their  discharge  through  the  agency  of 
the  United  States  court.  While  the  commanding  officer  at 
Fort  Snelling,  Colonel  Francis  Lee,  was  con\dnced  that  Judge 
Chatfield's  decision  was  correct  according  to  law,  he  and  the 
other  officers  stationed  there  at  that  time  were  greatly  dis- 
turbed at  the  frequent  discharge,  by  the  court,  of  soldiers  at 
the  Fort.  Heretofore  these  discharges  had  occurred  -j:  Ram- 
sey county.  These  were  the  first  that  took  place  in  H^^iepin 
county,  and  it  was,  too,  the  first  occasion  of  Judge  CiRtfield 
appearing  in  a  judicial  capacity  in  the  county. 

The  county  of  Hennepin,  during  the  second  week  in  July, 
through  the  agency  of  the  New  York  Excelsior  colony,  received 
several  permanent  settlers  of  great  merit.  Among  them  were 
Rev.  Mr.  Nutting,  and  his  brother  Gen.  Levi  Nutting,  now 
of  Faribault,  Eev.  H.  M.  Nichols,  Hon.  Arba  Cleveland,  Geo. 
M.  Powers,  H.  M.  Lyman,  and  Joshua  Moore,  all  from  Mas- 
sachusetts ;  and  Burritt  S.  and  Wm.  S.  Judd,  from  Ohio  ; 
and  Eev.  Chas.  Galpin,  and  his  brother  Bev.  Geo.  Galpin, 
natives  of  Connecticut ;  and  Peter  M.  Gideon,  who  has  since 
become  so  widely  known  as  a  pomologist,  and  several  other 
men  of  moment,  who  have  occupied  high  positions  in  the 
country's  history.  Mr.  Bertram,  the  leader  of  the  colony, 
was  a  native  of  Scotland,  but  for  many  years  previous  to  his 
coming  to  Minnesota,  had  been  an  enterprising  business  man 
in  New  York.  He  certainly  accomplished  a  good  work  for 
Minnesota  by  introducing  so  many  good  men  into  the  territory. 

The  Winnebagoes  were  particularly  restless  during  this 
early  summer.  They  could  not  be  confined  to  their  reserva- 
tion at  Long  Prairie.  From  their  long  association  with  the 
whites  in  the  lower  country  many  of  them  could  speak  Eng- 
lish.    They  would  complain  of  their  hard  lot  to  every  settler 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  201 

they  met.  In  some  instances  they  resoi'teil  to  violence  in 
their  ill-will  to  the  whites.  On  June  l-4tli  they  attempted  t(j 
kill  Mr.  Berry,  a  resident  up  the  river  a  few  miles  above  St. 
Anthony,  with  an  ax,  and  they  canio  pretty  near  carrying' 
their  design  into  execution,  as  Mr.  Berry  was  only  rescued 
by  the  timely  arrival  of  neighbors.  He  received  severe 
wounds  from  their  hands.  Tliis  lawless  tril)e  of  Indians, 
previous  to  the  unprovoked  attack  on  Mr.  Berry,  had  dis- 
charged a  gun  at  Mrs.  Leonard,  the  wife  of  Chas.  E.  Leonard, 
the  village  justice  of  tlie  peace,  in  north  St.  Antliony.  That 
excellent  lady  fortunately  escaped  injury,  but  the  Indians 
shot  a  choice  cow  belonging  to  Mr.  Leonard  when  they  found 
they  had  failed  in  tlie  attempt  to  kill  his  wife.  This  was  a 
most  unprovoked  attfick  upon  the  life  of  Mrs.  Leonard,  as  the 
Indians  had  frequently  received  many  favors  from  her  hu.s- 
band  who,  with  his  family,  were  among  tlie  most  respected 
perAis  in  the  territory  ;  Mr.  Leonard  having  frequently 
recerved  the  unanimous  suffrages  of  thi?  voters  for  different 
offices  in  tlunr  gift,  which  he  always  filled  to  their  entire  sat- 
isfaction. Similar  outrages  committed  by  this  tribe  of  Indians 
on  the  white  settlers  occurred  during  the  summer. 

The  commencement  for  the  building  of  the  first  bridge  that 
ever  spanned  the  Mississippi  was  heralded  in  the  several  news- 
papers of  the  territory  in  the  following  historical  announce- 
ment, dated  St.  Anthony,  June  17th,  ISoo  : 

"  Notice  is  hereby  given,  that  books  will  be  opened  at  the 
"  office  of  Isaac  AtAvater,  St.  Anthony  ;  and  at  St.  Paul,  at  the 
"  office  of  Eice,  Hollingshead  &  Becker,  on  the  third  Monda}^ 
"of  July  next,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  subscriptions  to 
"  the  capital  stock  of  the  Mississippi  river  bridge  company, 
"  incori)orated  March  4th,  1852."  Signed  Isaac  Atwater,  D.  E. 
Moulton,  John  H.  Stevens,  John  Eollins,  Calvin  A.  Tuttle, 
Incorporators.  The  first  day  that  the  books  were  opened, 
sufficient  subscriptions  were  made  tt)  tho  capital  stock  to 
insure  the  success  of  the  enterprise,  and  from  that  date  to  its 
completion  the  work  was  prosecuted  with  vigor. 

While  we  could  not  expect  to  make  rapid  progress  in  build- 
ing in  Minneapolis,  situated  as  we  were,  not  being  able  to  sell 
lots,  or  even  to  give  a  warrantee  deed  if  we  should  sell  them, 
still  every  week  some  forward  steps  were  taken. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST   MINNEAPOLIS   BELL   TOLLED. 

The  first  bell  in  Minneapolis  was  the  generous  gift  of  east- 
em  friends  to  the  first  Presbyterian  church.  The  society 
held  meetings  in  the  public  hall  over  the  store,  near  the  ferry, 
a  block  or  two  distant  from  my  house.  Rev.  J.  C.  Whitney, 
the  pastor,  and  elders  A.  E.  Ames,  D.  M.  Coolbaugh,  and  J.  N. 
Barber,  consented  to  have  the  bell  placed  on  a  tower  outside 
the  building.  The  few  of  us  on  this  side  of  the  great  river 
remember  well  the  first  tolling  of  that  pioneer  bell,  on  the 
west  bank  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  on  that  quiet  Sabbath 
morning,  late  in  the  summer,  announcing  the  hour  of  religious 
services.  The  undulating  sound  of  that  bell  seems  l;o  come 
down  to  -me  through  thirty-six  years  of  space,  mellowed  by 
time,  as  soft  and  sweet  and  pure  in  tone  as  the  cradle-song  of 
a  young  mother  to  her  first-born.  As  I  am  nearing  another 
ferry,  to  cross  another  river,  its  tender  throbbings  Adbrate 
with  the  well-remembered  pulsations  of  the  familiar  church- 
going  bells  of  my  early  youth  in  a  far-away  eastern  home. 
From  that  day  church-bells  have  heralded,  above  the  roar  of 
the  cataract,  the  hours  of  public  worship  to  all  around  the 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  and  proclaimed  the  highest  type  of  civili- 
zation. That  primitive  bell  is  in  Minneapolis  to-day,  where 
there  is  a  population  now  nearly  a  thousand  times  greater 
than  then.  That  pastor,  too,  is  with  us,  deservedly  now  a  man 
of  material  wealth,  as  well  as  of  moral  worth  and  influence 
for  good  in  the  community.  He  continues  a  member  of  the 
same  church. 


I 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    I'EOPLE.  203 

The  hall  in  which  r(>li<^ious  luoelings  wore  held  was  also 
used  £or  sessions  of  the  United  States  and  district  courts,  and 
for  pnblic  gatherings  generally.  On  the  ground-floor  was  a 
room  suitable  for  a  store, 

Hennepin  Lodge,  U.  D.,  was  organized  and  worked  under 
the  first  dispensation  granted  by  the  grand  lodge  of  Minnesota. 
The  officers  were  D.  .^[.  C()oll)augh,  master;  J,  N.  Barber, 
senior  warden  ;  E.  .\l.  Hodson,  junior  warden  ;  S.  AV.  Case, 
secretary  ;  E.  Case,  treasurer  ;  Edward  Murphy,  senior 
deacon  ;  Anson  Northrup,  junior  deacon  ;  Chesman  Gould, 
tyler.  The  meetings  were  held  at  the  house  of  Anson 
Northrup, 

Another  benevolent  societ}',  the  Otld  Fellows,  was  organized 
in  July,  with  Charles  Hoag  at  its  head. 

August  1st  we  had  a  flourishing  church  society,  a  district 
school,  a  county  court,  and  a  claim  association,  with  an  agri- 
cultural society  soon  to  be  organized. 

The  saw-  and  grist-mill  on  the  west  bank  at  the  Falls, 
erected  by  Hon.  Robert  Smith  and  his  partners,  under  the 
superiutendency  of  Calvin  A,  Tuttle,  were  finished  the  first 
w^eek  in  August.  Both  mills  were  small,  but  answered  every 
I)urpose  for  the  trade  of  that  day.  The  boom  privileges  for 
holding  logs  on  this  side  of  the  river  were  inefficient,  hence 
the  saw-mill  was  run  under  great  disadvantages  ;  but  we  were 
proud  of  the  little  mills. 

The  only  store  in  the  county  at  this  time  was  a  smfdl  one 
just  started  at  Minnetonka  by  David  Paschal  Spafford,  Those 
of  us  in  this  vicinity,  as  well  as  "the  settlers  up  the  river,  were 
obliged  to  patronize  either  the  stores  in  St.  Anthony  or  the 
sutler's  store  at  Fort  Snelling. 

On  the  loili  of  August  Mr.  Northrup's  lioarding-house  on 
Hennepin  island  was  burned,  it  was  occupied  by  his  nephew, 
Geo.  A,  Camp. 

On  August  20th  Governor  Gorman  appointed  Prof.  E.  TT, 
Merrill,  principal  of  the  university,  superintendent  of  com- 
mon schools  of  the  territory. 

Georgiana,  the  first-born  child  of  John  George  Lennon, 
died  at  the  family  residence  in  St.  Anthony.  There  were  in 
the  neighborhood  numeroiis  believers  that  the  village  was 
unhealthy  for  children. 


204  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

The  trustees  of  the  district-school  in  Minneapolis  were  for- 
tunate in  securing  the  services  of  Miss  Mary  A.  Scofield  as 
teacher  for  the  summer  term.  Miss  Scofield  had  been  em- 
ployed, at  her  home,  near  Rochester,  New  York,  by  Governor 
Slade,  of  Vermont,  at  that  time  at  the  head  of  an  eastern  organ- 
ization for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  west  with  teachers. 
She  first  taught  with  Miss  Bishop  in  St.  Paul,  as  early  as  1848. 
She  was  a  lady  of  rare  merit.  She  became  the  wife  of  Prof. 
A.  S.  Kissell,  for  many  years  state  superintendent  of  schools  in 
Iowa.     Her  literary  attainments  were  of  a  very  high  order. 

Two  new  ferries  w^ere  established  over  the  Mississippi  river, 
this  summer  ;  one  up  the  river  a  few  miles  above  Minneapolis, 
by  William  Dugas  ;  the  other  by  Edward  Murphy,  at  the  foot 
of  the  i-apids,  the  seat  of  the  steamboat-landing  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Bohemian  Flats. 

At  a  Whig  convention  held  in  St.  Anthony,  September  1st, 
Dr.  J.  H.  Murphy  was  nominated  for  the  council,  Messrs. 
Reuben  Ball  and  Chas.  F.  Steams  for  the  house  of  representa- 
tives, Ira  B.  Kingsley  for  justice,  and  R.  H.  Jefferson  for  con- 
stable. The  first  Whig  convention  ever  held  in  Hennepin 
county  was  convened  at  the  new  hall  in  Minneapolis,  Septem- 
ber 8th.  The  nominations  were  Isaac  Atwater  for  district- 
attorney,  Z.  M,  Brown  for  county  treasurer,  C.  W.  Christmas 
for  county  surveyor,  D.  M.  Coolbaugh,  S.  A.  Goodrich  and  S. 
K.  Shultz  for  assessors  ;  A.  N.  Hoyt  for  county  commissioner, 
and  C.  W.  Farring-ton  for  road  supervisor.  John  H.  Stevens, 
Joel  B.  Bassett,  A.  N.  Hoyt,  John  L.  Tenny  and  Washington 
Getchell  were  appointed  delegates  to  the  legislative  district 
convention  to  be  held  at  Shakopee.  Central  committees  were 
appointed  as  follows  :  Minnetonka  precinct,  Simon  Stevens, 
Horace  Webster  and  James  Mountain  ;  Upper  precinct,  Jacob 
Longfellow,  Amos  Longfellow  and  Geo.  W.  Getchell ;  Minne- 
apolis precinct,  A.  N.  Hoyt,  A.  L.  Cummings  and  C.  C.  Jenks  ; 
St.  Peters  precinct  (now  Bloomington),  William  Chambers, 
Joseph  Dean  and  S.  A.  Goodrich. 

The  Democratic  convention  was  hold  in  St.  Anthony,  Sep- 
tember 12.  Chas.  F.  Stimpson  was  nominated  for  the  council, 
Daniel  Stanchfield  and  William  Dugas  for  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives, W.  F.  Brawley  and  James  H.  BrowTi  for  justices 
of  the  peace  ;  and  J.  A.  West  and  John  Beam  for  constables. 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  205 

The  second  regiilar  term  of  the  District  court  was  convened 
on  the  5th  of  September,  Judge  Chatfield  presiding.  The 
same  officers  attended  the  court  that  appeared  at  the  first 
term,  except  A.  F.  Whitney,  U.  S.  deputy  marshal,  and  Isaac 
Atwater,  district  attorney.  The  grand  jury  was  composed  of 
E.  Case,  foreman,  AVashington  Getchell,  J.  N.  Barber,  George 
Parks,  Chas.  AV.  Christmas,  H.  S.  Atwood,  L.  P.  Warren, 
William  Chambers,  H.  Fletcher,  Simon  Stevens,  John  C. 
Bohannan,  Norman  Jenkins,  B.  B.  Gibson,  John  W.  Dorr, 
Joel  B.  Bassett,  Isaac  V.  Draper,  Alex.  Moore,  Norman 
Abbott  and  AVm.  AV.  Getchell. 

Petit  jury  :  Jesse  Richardson,  Edmond  Borden,  Wm.  G. 
Moffett,  H.  Burlingham,  D.  H.  Smith,  C.  AV.  Farrington, 
Ezra  Foster,  Thos.  AA^.  Pierce,  Chas.  H.  Bro^vn,  Jas.  Smithy- 
man,  Cyrus  Hutchins,  Bobert  Blaisdell,  David  Bickford, 
Titus  Pettijohn,  Simeon  O'Dell,  Elijah  Austin,  Ezra  Hans- 
comb,  J.  P.  Miller,  Henry  Whalen,  John  Mitchell,  AVm.  H. 
Tuttle,  James  Brown  and  Orvil  Ames. 

The  grand  jury  returned  several  indictments,  none  of 
which,  except  one  against  Peter  Poncin,  for  rape,  were  of  a 
serious  character.  They  presented  Governor  Gorman  and 
General  Fletcher,  the  AA^innebago  agent,  for  aiding  the  Win- 
nebagoes  in  leaving  their  reservation  and  committing  depre- 
ilations  on  the  whites.  On  the  arrest  and  trial  of  the  persons 
indicted,  some  half-dozen  of  them,  mostly  for  violating  the 
liquor  law,  all  were  cleared  by  the  petit  jury.  There  were 
no  civil  cases  on  the  calendar. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  residing  in  township  28  of 
range  24,  held  the  first  of  the  month,  it  was  unanimously 
voted  to  call  the  town  Richland,  and  it  has  been  known  as 
such  since,   and  will  probably  continue  to  bear  that  name. 

A  meeting  of  the  Democrats  of  this  legislative  district  was 
held  at  Shakopee,  on  the  3d  of  September.  They  nominated 
Joseph  R.  Brown,  who  was  then  liN-ing  at  Mendota,  for  the 
council,  and  Dr.  H.  Fletcher,  of  Minneapolis,  and  Wm.  H. 
Nobles,  of  Scott  county,  for  the  house.  The  same  party  made 
the  following  nominations  for  Hennepin  county  :  For  county 
commissioner,  J.  A.  Dunsmore  ;  county  attorney,  D.  M. 
Hanson  ;  assessors,  B.  E.  Messer  and  T.  AA^.  Pierce  ;  consta- 
bles A.  Harmon  and  Titus  Pettijoh'n. 


206  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

The  new  Methodist  church  was  dedicated  on  the  4th.  It 
was  one  of  the  finest  church  edifices  in  the  territory.  Rev. 
M.  Sorin  conducted  the  services  on  the  occasion. 

Since  the  nominations  by  the  Democrats  in  St.  Anthony  the 
nominees  of  the  Whig  convention  became  satisfied  that  a  new 
deal  should  be  made  in  the  selection  of  the  candidates  ;  con- 
sequently, at  a  meeting  held  before  the  election,  Dr.  Murphy 
withdrew  as  a  candidate  for  the  council,  and  moved  that 
Chas.  T.  Stearns  be  the  candidate  in  his  stead.  The  motion 
was  adopted.  The  candidates  for  the  house  also  withdrew, 
and  Henry  S.  Plummer  was  selected  to  run.  It  was  decided 
to  make  no  nomination  for  the  second  candidate.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  disaffection  in  the  Democratic  party  in  regard 
to  their  nominees,  it  was  decided  that  the  Whigs  would  suj)- 
port  for  that  office  the  nominee  of  the  disaffected  democrats. 
The  latter  selected  Cephas  Gardner.     This  ticket  was  elected. 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1853  a  treaty  had  been  made 
with  the  Winnebago  Indians,  the  ratification  of  which  would 
have  seriously  injured  this  section  of  the  state.  That  nation 
agreed  to  surrender  all  their  rights  in  the  Long  Prairie  coun- 
try for  the  territory  herein  described :  Beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  Crow  river,  thence  running  up  the  Mississippi  to 
the  mouth  of  Clearwater  river,  thence  running  up  said  river 
to  its  source,  thence  on  a  line  running  due  west  until  it 
intersects  the  north  fork  of  Crow  river,  thence  to  the  place  of 
beginning.-  A  reservation  was  made  for  the  right  of  way  for 
the  Pacific  railroad,  also  of  seventy-two  sections  for  the  use 
of  the  Stockbridge  Indians,  provided  they  wished  to  locate 
near  the  mouth  of  Crow  river.  This  treaty,  as  it  should  have 
been,  was  strenuously  opposed  by  the  citizens  of  both  Minne- 
apolis and  St.  Anthony.  It  required  hard  work  on  our  part 
to  defeat  it,  but  we  succeeded  in  doing  so  ;  and  after  so  long 
a  time  since  the  event,  we  can  not  be  too  thankful  that  our 
efforts  were  successful  ;  had  they  not  been,  a  large  part  of 
what  is  now  Wright  county  would  have  been  the  very  light 
and  life  of  the  Winnebago  nation.  There  would  have  been 
no  Dayton,  Monticello,  Clearwater,  Otsego,  Watertown,  Del- 
ano, Rockford,  or  Buffalo,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  Minneapolis 
or  St.  Paul  would  have  been  nearly  as  large  to-day  in  popu- 
lation, had  that  treaty  been  ratified  by  the  whites. 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  207 

The  improvements  made  in  St.  Anthony  this  season  were 
satisfactory.  Mr.  Cloutier  erected  a  hirgo  liouso  near  the 
Catholic  church.  A  large  addition  to  the  St.  Charles  was 
com})leted  by  the  then  landlord  of  that  hotel,  Cai)tain  J.  B. 
Gilbert.  Mr.  Ball  built  a  tine  block  above  Dorman's.  Wil- 
son's improvements,  corner  of  Main  and  Rollins  streets,  were 
an  ornament  to  the  village.  Ed  Lipi)in('ott  finished  his 
blacksmith  shop  opposite  the  mill  ;  Stearns,  Manseur  & 
Dickey  built  a  large  furniture  manufacturing  establishment  ; 
King  finished  his  block  for  stones  and  offices  ;  Geo.  A.  Brott 
completed  his  dwelling  on  the  cliif,  which  was  the  finest  one 
in  the  territory  ;  and  Cheever  commenced  his  observatory 
which  attracted  so  much  attention  in  the  early  days.  Innu- 
merable im})rovements  were  made  on  the  back  streets. 

During  the  year  considerable  sickness  prevailed  in  the 
village.  It  was  mostly  confined  to  young  children.  Among 
the  fatal  cases  were  the  only  child  of  Eev.  Charles  Secombe, 
a  lovely  little  boy  of  some  six  months  ;  and  on  the  19th  of 
March  Judge  and  Mrs.  Atwater's  pleasant  home  was  made  a 
house  of  mourning  by  the  loss  of  their  only  child  Caroline,  a 
beautiful  little  girl  of  fifteen  months.  The  child  of  Isaac  I. 
Lewis,  little  Henry  Jay,  died  on  the  9th  of  September.  Dec. 
4  Col.  Alvaren  Allen's  fireside  was  called  to  greatly  lament 
the  death  of  their  only  little  daughter,  Ella  Ophelia,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three  months.  Those  two  little  girls  were  the 
first-born  in  each  family.  Several  other  families  were  afflicted 
in  like  manner,  including  those  of  Dr.  Murphy,  J.  G.  Lennon 
and  Mr.  Orth. 

On  the  18th  of  September  the  Hennepin  county  Bible 
society  was  organized  through  an  agent  of  the  Ameri- 
can Bible  society.  The  officers^lected  for  the  year  were  Dr. 
A.  E.  Ames,  president ;  Eev.  Mr.  Harris,  \-ice-president  ; 
treasurer,  Dr.  H.  Fletcher  ;  secretary,  Miss  Mary  A.  Scofield  ; 
executive  committee,  A.  Harmon,  D.  M.  Hanson  and  J.  N. 
Barber  ;  local  agents,  Philander  Prescott,  William  Finch, 
Rev.  G.  H.  Pond,  Rev.  Charles  Galpin,  Rev.  A.  C.  Godfrey, 
Deacon  Mann,  B.  E.  Messer,  Rev.  J.  W.  Dow,  A.  Harmon, 
Mrs.  Joseph  Dean,  Miss  Mary  E.  Miller,  Miss  Marian  H. 
Coolbaugh,  Miss  Stough  and  Miss  MoflPett.  This  was  the 
first  organization  of  a  kindred  character  in  Hennepin  county. 


208  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

In  pursuance  of  previous  notice  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Hennepin  county  Agricultural  society,  incorjiorated  by  an 
act  of  the  legislature,  approved  February  28th,  1853,  was  held 
in  the  court  house,  September  7th.  Dr.  Ames  called  the 
meeting  to  order.  He  was  elected  president,  and  Joseph  H. 
Canney  was  chosen  secretary.  The  meeting  was  addressed 
by  E.  L.  Hall,  John  W.  North,  Isaac  Atwater,  Judge  Chat- 
field,  Captain  Dodge,  and  others.  Isaac  Atwater,  John  H. 
Stevens,  J.  N.  Barber,  and  R.  B.  Gibson,  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  draft  a  constitution  and  by-laws.  On  the  adop- 
tion of  the  constitution  and  by-laws,  as  reported  by  the  com- 
mittee, the  following  ofl&cers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing 
year  :  President,  Rev.  J.  W.  Dorr  ;  treasurer,  E.  Case  ;  sec- 
retary, J.  H.  Canney  ;  executive  committee,  J.  H.  Stevens, 
N.  C.  Stoddard,  William  Chambers,  W.  W.  Getchell  and 
Stephen  Hall.  It  was  decided  to  hold  an  agricultural  fair  in 
Minneapolis  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  October,  1853,  and  that 
the  ladies  be  requested  to  send  specimens  of  their  industrial 
products.  The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee on  analysis  of  the  soil :  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  J.  H.  Stevens 
and  Charles  Hoag. 

THE    BEGINNING    OE    THE   MINNESOTA   AGRICULTURAL   SOCIETY 

At  the  meeting  above  mentioned,  N.  E.  Stoddard  offered 
the  following  resolution,  which  was  unanimously  adopted  : 
Resolved,  That  this  society  deems  it  expedient  that  there 
should  be  a  convention  held  at  St.  Paul  on  the  first  Wednes- 
day of  January  next,  to  form  a  territorial  agricultural  society, 
and  that  delegates  be  now  appointed  to  attend  said  convention ; 
and  that  other  agricultural  societies  in  the  territory  are 
respectfully  requested  to  send  delegates  to  said  convention. 
Messrs.  Stoddard,  A.  N.  Hoyt  and  William  Chambers  were 
appointed  said  delegates. 

Up  to  this  time  there  had  been  no  work  laid  out  on  the 
Minnetonka  road.  For  that  matter,  there  was  no  road,  aside 
from  a  path  through  the  brush-lands,  which  was  almost 
impassable.  The  citizens  of  both  sides  of  the  river  were 
called  ui)on,  and  they  subscribed  sufficient  money  to  make  a 
good  road  to  the  lake.  O.  E.  Garrison  was  called  upon  to 
superintend  the  work. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Mississippi  Bridge 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PKOPLE.  209 

company,  on  the  24tli,  the  followin/:^  ti^entl'Mnen  were  appointed 
otiicers  for  the  ensuing  year  :  Hon.  Jolui  liollins,  president  ; 
S.  M.  Tracy,  secretary  and  treasurer  ;  Charles  King,  J.  W. 
North,  Shelton  Hollister,  E,  P.  Russell,  Francis  Morrison  and 
S.  K.  Shultz,  directors. 

In  consequence  of  the  great  influx  of  children  into  St. 
Anthony  during  the  summer,  Avhen  tlie  fall  and  winter  ochools 
were  opened  it  was  found  that  there  was  not  sufficient  school- 
room for  them.  A  number  of  private  schools  were  opened. 
The  Sisters  made  use  of  a  large  room  in  the  upi)er  town  for 
school  purposes.  Rev.  Mr.  Chamberlain  and  his  wife,  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Bishop  Chase,  opened  a  seminary  for  young 
ladies,  and  Mrs.  Z.  E.  B.  Nash  commenced  a  select-school, 
which  became  very  popular.  AVitli  these  select-schools  in 
addition  to  the  preparatory  department  of  the  state  university 
and  the  two  district-schgols,  the  majority  of  the  children  were 
accommodated.  The  services  of  Charles  Hoag  were  secured 
for  the  principal  school  building  in  St.  Anthony,  while  those 
of  Mr.  Clarke,  an  experienced  teacher  from  Ohio,  were  secured 
for  the  Minneapolis  school.  Mr.  Clarke  was  the  first  male 
teacher  in  the  Minneapolis  schools. 

The  Northampton  farmers,  so-called,  belonging  to  the 
Excelsior  colony,  were  wonderfully  pleased  with  the  jjroduct- 
iveness  of  the  soil.  Arba  Cleveland  planted  two  potatoes, 
from  which  he  raised  a  bushel  and  a  half  of  good  merchant- 
able potatoes.  The  members  of  the  colony  seemed  thoroughly 
impressed  with  the  fertility  of  the  section  of  country  they  had 
selected  for  their  homes.  The  average  to  the  acre  of  spring 
wheat  was  thirty  bushels.  These  were  .the  days  that  farmers 
made  money  ;  more  so  than  since  that  time  ;  probably  more 
so  than  they  will  in  the  future. 

A  German  colony  arrived  from  the  old  country  and  settled 
on  a  lake  some  three  miles  west  of  Mr.  Cleveland's  place. 
Sheriff  Brown  named  the  lake  Bavaria.  The  colony  was 
headed  by  Joseph  Kessler. 

Ard  Godfrey  finished  his  mill  at  the  moutii  of  Little  Falls 
creek,  the  building  of  which  received  his  constant  attention 
for  a  year.  He  commenced  sawing  on  the  first  of  October. 
He  decided  to  build  a  flour-mill. 

The  citizens  of  Minneapolis  decided,  early  in  October,  to 


210  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

engage  B.  E.  Messer  to  teach  a  singiug-scliool  during  the 
winter.  The  following  is  a  list  of  subscriptions  to  pay  the 
teacher  :  John  H.  Stevens  five  dollars,  Thomas  Chambers  five 
dollars,  A.  N.  Hoyt  five  dollars,  E.  S.  Smith  five  dollars,  John 
S.  Cooper  five  dollars,  Edwin  Hedderly  three  dollars,  "William 
Dickie  three  dollars,  Calvin  A.  Tuttle  three  dollars,  Geo.  E. 
Huy  three  dollars,  George  Park  two  dollars  and  a  half,  S.  S. 
Crowell  two  dollars,  AVilliam  Goodwin  two  dollars,  Daniel 
Scott  two  dollars,  George  Davis  two  dollars,  Gilbert  Hanson 
two  dollars,  W.  G.  Murphy  one  dollar  and  a  half,  Chas.  W. 
Monson  one  dollar  and  a  half.  Simeon  K.  Odell  and  several 
others  signed  all  the  way  from  fifty  cents  to  a  dollar,  making 
in  all  a  sufilcient  amount  for  a  continuance  of  the  school  all 
winter.  This  was  the  first  singing-school  in  Hennepin  county. 
Minneapolis  had  now  not  only  a  good  teacher  in  the  district- 
school,  but  a  good  one  in  the  singing-school.  The  only 
school  ever  held  out  of  Minneapolis  proper,  up  to 
this  time,  in  the  county,  except  a  garrison  school  at  Fort 
Snelling,  was  an  Indian  school  at  the  Lake  Harriet  mission 
as  early  as  1836,  taught  by  Kev.  S.  W.  Pond. 

In  consequence  of  the  increasing  practice  in  his  profession. 
Dr.  Murphy  found  that  he  could  not  well  accept  the  nomina- 
tion of  the  Whigs  of  St.  Anthony  for  the  council.  A  new  con- 
vention was  held,  when  Hon.  C.  F.  Stearns  was  nominated  in 
his  stead.  Henry  S.  Plummer  was  nominated  for  the  house 
in  Mr.  Stearns'  place.  This  ticket  was  elected,  with  Cephas 
Gardner  as  Mr.  Plummer's  colleague  in  the  house.  Dr. 
Kings] ey  and  Lardner  Bostwick  were  elected  city  justices. 
Maj.  A.  M.  Fridley,  of  St.  Anthony,  was  elected  sheriff  of 
Hamsey  county.  In  the  sixth  council  district,  to  which  Hen- 
nepin county  was  attached,  the  candidates  for  the  council 
were  Joseph  R.  Brown,  democrat,  and  S.  F.  Cook,  whig,  both 
of  Dakota  county  ;  for  the  house,  Wm.  H.  Nobles,  of  Scott 
county,  and  Dr.  H.  Fletcher  of  Hennepin  county,  democrats  ; 
and  John  H.  Stevens,  whig.  The  democrats  were  elected,  as 
were  the  candidates  on  the  democratic  ticket  for  the  county 
offices  in  Hennepin  county,  with  the  exception  of  Washington 
Getchell  for  county  commissioner. 

The  survey  for  the  bridge  over  the  river  was  completed, 
and  the  estimate  made  to  the  stockholders.     Mr.  Newton,  the 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  211 

first  enti^ineer  of  tho  bridge,  came  near  beint^  (h-owned  while 
enj^aged  in  the  survey,  and  lost  a  valuable  level  and  tripod 
which  sank  to  the  bottom  of  the  river. 

Thomas  Chambers  and  Edwin  Hedderly  formed  a  copart- 
nershij)  and  opened  a  tirst-class  store  in  the  lower  room  of 
the  court-house,  near  the  ferry.  A  few  weeks  afterward,  on 
November  25th,  Joseph  LeDuc  and  A.  King  started  another 
first-class  store,  near  the  lower  ferry,  on  the  Minneai^olis  side 
of  the  river.  At  last  the  citizens  on  the  west  side  at  the 
Falls  could  buy  their  tea  and  coffee  and  other  necessary 
goods,  at  home. 

There  was  a  great  scarcity  of  working  oxen  for  the  pinerie3 
this  fall.  They  frequently  sold  for  one  hundred  and  thirty 
up  to  one  hundred  and  forty  dollars  j^er  yoke,  which  was 
almost  double  the  price  they  had  been  worth  previous  years. 
There  were  no  horses  used  to  haul  logs  in  the  pineries. 

The  "Winnebagoes  were  secretly  leaving  their  reservation 
at  Long  Prairie  to  spend  the  winter  down  among  the  graves 
of  their  fathers  in  Iowa  and  Wisconsin  ;  and  wdiile  making 
the  portage  around  the  Falls  committed  numerous  depreda- 
tions on  the  stock  of  the  settlers  in  this  vicinity.  Mr.  Hed- 
derly and  A.  N.  Hoyt  were  the  principal  sufferers.  Every 
effort  was  made  to  punish  the  Indians  for  the  depredations 
they  committed,  but  they  escaped  in  their  boats  and  were 
never  punished. 

The  Kev.  F.  Nutting,  of  the  Northampton  colony,  died  on 
the  17th  of  December.  This  was  the  first  death  among  those 
who  came  west  under  the  Excelsior  auspices.  He  was  a  man 
of  great  worth.  He  left  his  eastern  home  in  consequence  of 
lung  difficulties.  After  a  residence  of  over  a  year  in  the  ter- 
ritory he  had  seemingly  fully  recovered  his  health.  He  had 
some  business  in  the  east  which  made  it  necessary  to  return 
there.  Immediately  on  his  arrival  he  contracted  a  severe 
cold,  which  settled  on  his  lungs.  He  at  once  returned  to 
Minnesota,  but  only  lived  a  few  days  after  reaching  his  home 
in  St.  Anthony.  His  physician  said  that  if  he  had  not  made 
a  visit  to  the  east  his  life  would  probably  have  been  pro- 
longed many  years  in  this  climate. 


CHAPTEK  XXX. 

FIRST   SURVEY  FOR   THE   NORTHERN   PACIFIC  RAILROAD. 

On  the  8tli  of  April,  1853,  Major  Isaac  I.  Stevens,  of  the 
United  States  army,  was  assigned  by  the  war  department  to 
the  duty  of  exploring  a  route  for  the  Pacific  railroad  from  St. 
Paul  via  St.  Anthony  to  the  Pacific  coast.  He  had  pre^aously 
been  appointed  governor  of  the  territory  of  Washington.  He 
arrived  at  St.  Paul  on  the  27th  of  May,  but  the  officers  and 
soldiers  of  the  command  that  was  to  accompany  him  had 
arrived  several  days  previously,  and  had  encamped  on  the 
banks  of  Lake  Amelia,  near  this  village.  The  encampment 
extended  to  Diamond  Lake.  At  this  point  all  the  plans  were 
completed  for  the  survey  of  the  route  for  the  proposed  rail- 
road. All  the  government  mules,  the  horses  belonging  to  the 
dragoons,  and  to  the  officers,  were  thoroughly  tested  with 
regard  to  the  probability  of  their  capacity  for  making  the 
long  journey.  The  numerous  wagons  were  thoroughly  over- 
hauled and  examined.  Some  of  these  wagons  had  seen  service 
in  the  Mexican  and  Florida  war.  The  country  was  thoroughly 
canvassed  for  teamsters,  wagon-masters,  and  men  to  serve  in 
various  capacities.  Governor  Stevens  ofPered  such  high  wages 
that  there  was  danger  of  a  large  majority  of  our  young  men 
around  the  Falls,  including  those  engaged  in  the  pineries, 
going  with  him  to  the  Pacific.  Among  those  who  accompa- 
nied him  were  W.  W.  Bixby,  Henry  Berry,  and  several  others. 
Pierre  Bottineau  went  with  him  as  a  guide.  He  also  hired 
Henry  Belland  as  a  guide  for  Lieut.  Cuvier  Grover,  who  was 
to  explore  a  more  northerly  route  than  that  which  Governor 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    J'EOl'LE.  213 

Stevens  was  to  traverse.  Many  of  the  persons  in  civil  life 
whose  services  had  been  secured  by  Governor  Stevens  to 
accompany  him  subsequently  became  known  throughout  the 
Union.  Among  them  were  Messrs.  Lander,  Tinkham,  Osgood, 
Kendall,  and  Stanley.  Governor  Stevens  Invoke  camp  on 
Monday,  the  Gtli  of  June.  Captain  Ta2)per  had  two  busy  days 
in  ferrying  them  over  the  river.  Wliat  seems  a  little  strange 
at  this  late  day  is,  that  nonc^  of  those  persons  from  the  Falls, 
who  went  with  Governor  Stevens  on  that  memorable  jour- 
ney, ever  returned  to  live  here. 

Edward  Patch,  G.  B.  Dutton,  Z.  M.  Brown,  E.  B.  Randall 
and  Bobert  W.  Gummings  were  appointed  trustees  of  the 
John  G.  Potts  Lodge  No.  3  of  the  Indejjendent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  of  the  town  of  St.  Anthony  Falls,  in  pursuance 
of  an  act  of  incorporation  passed  by  the  legislature,  ai)proved 
February  27th,  1852.  This  was  the  first  Lodge  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows ever  organized  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

The  Library  Association  of  St.  Anthony  commenced  early 
in  the  Fall  to  secure  proper  persons  to  lecture  during  the 
winter  of  1853  and  '54.  This  Association,  in  the  early  days 
of  St.  Anthony,  was  a  source  of  great  benefit  to  the  citizens 
of  that  village,  morally  and  intellectually.  In  looking  back 
to  that  j)eriod,  at  this  time,  the  good  results  that  flowed  from 
that  institution  seem  to  have  been  the  commencement  of  the 
real  tendency  of  the  citizens,  which  has  ever  distinguished 
them,  to  a  high  order  of  mental  development.  The  Associa- 
tion was  incorporated  as  early  as  November  1st,  1849,  by  an 
act  of  the  territorial  legislature.  The  incorporators  were  J. 
J.  Carleton,  R.  P.  Russell,  Ira  Barrows,  Eli  F.  Lewis  and 
Sumner  AV.  Farnham. 

It  was  intended  by  the  farmers  of  Hennepin  county  to  hold 
an  agricultural  fair  in  Minneapolis  this  fall,  but  the  executive 
committee  considered  it  better  to  postpone  that  event  until 
the  fall  of  1854.  The  agricultural  society  was  incorporated 
by  an  act  of  the  legislature,  approved  February  20,  1853. 
The  persons  named  in  the  act  of  incor})oration  were  E.  Case, 
Joel  B.  Bassett,  Alexander  Moore,  Warren  Bristol,  H. 
Fletcher,  A.  E.  Ames,  John  H.  Stevens,  P.  Prescott,  Joseph 
Dean  and  John  S.  Mann.  It  was  determined  by  the  execu- 
tive committee,  in  jjursuance  of  the  resolution  by  Mr.  Stod- 


214  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

dard,  passed  at  tlie  first  meeting  of  the  society  in  September, 
to  take  immediate  steps  to  organize  a  territorial  agricultural 
society.  After  a  correspondence  with  leading  agriculturists 
in  the  state,  the  following  notice  appeared  in  the  several 
newspapers  published  in  the  territory,  under  date  of  Decem- 
ber 17th  : 

TERRITORIAL  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
»  "  Conference  having  been  had  among  the  friends  of  agri- 
"  cultural  improvement  in  different  parts  of  the  territory,  and 
"  a  general  desire  having  been  expressed  for  the  formation  of 
"a  territorial  society,  the  undersigned,  delegates  from  the 
"agricultural  societies  of  Hennepin,  Eamsey,  and  Benton 
"  counties,  have  deemed  it  expedient  to  call  a  convention  for 
"  that  purpose,  to  be  held  in  St.  Paul,  on  Monday,  the  4th 
"of  January  next,  at  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  at  the  capital.  The  dif- 
"  ferent  counties  interested  in  this  measure  are  respectfully 
"  and  earnestly  solicited  to  send  delegates  to  the  convention, 
"  that  the  whole  territory  ]nay  be  represented  in  this  desirable 
"  object.  In  addition  to  the  business  of  the  formation  of  the 
"  society,  an  address  before  the  convention  may  be  expected, 
"of  which  due  notice  may  be  given.  Signed  :  John  H. 
"Stevens,  chairman  executive  committee  of  the  Hennepin 
"  county  agricultural  society  ;  A.  E.  Ames,  A.  N.  Hoyt,  N.  E. 
"  Stoddard,  of  the  Hennepin  county  agricultural  society  ;  W. 
"  W.  Wales,  Ramsey  county  agricultural  society  ;  O.  H. 
"  Kelly,  Benton  county  agricultural  society." 

MINNESOTA   AGRICULTURAL   SOCIETY   ORGANIZED. 

For  the  purpose  of  completing  the  history  of  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Minnesota  state  agricultural  society,  of  which  there 
has  been  so  much  controversy  in  the  state,  and  so  many 
inaccurate  statements,  from  time  to  time,  this  article  is 
extended  into  a  record  of  events  in  relation  thereto  that 
occurred  in  the  early  part  of  1854. 

At  the  territorial  convention  held  in  the  hall  of  the  house 
of  representatives,  at  St.  Paul,  January  4th,  1854,  Hon.  A.  E. 
Ames,  of  Hennepin,  called  the  meeting  to  order,  and  stated 
the  object  of  the  convention.  On  motion  of  Hon.  R.  M. 
Richardson,  of  Bentcm,  Captain  William  Holcombe,  of  Wash- 
ington, was  called  to  the  chair,  and  John  H.  Stevens  of  Hen- 
nepin,  and  W.   H.  Moore,  of  Washington,  were  appointed 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  215 

secretaries  of  the  convention.  The  following  delegates  from 
the  agricultural  counties  of  Ramsey,  Benton,  and  Hennepin 
took  their  seats  as  members  of  the  convention  :  Ramsey,  J. 
W.  Selby,  C.  L.  Willis,  A.  Bennett,  John  R.  Irvine,  George 
Richard,  Charles  Symonds,  James  H.  Brown,  Geo.  A.  Camp, 
Truman  M.  Smith,  George  Hezlt^,  C.  H.  Parker,  and  AVm.  L. 
Ames  ;  Benton  county,  S.  B.  Olmstead,  C.  C.  Crane,  R.  M. 
Richardson,  and  Wm.  H.  Kelly  ;  Hennei)in  county,  A.  N. 
Hoyt,  N.  E.  Stoddard,  A.  E.  Ames,  Edward  Murphy,  JolinH. 
Stevens,  E.  Case  William  Chambers,  and  Isaac  Brown.  On 
motion  of  Dr.  Ames,  the  following  gentlemen  from  counties 
outside  the  call  were  admitted  as  delegates  to  the  convention  : 
Washington  county,  A.  Stevens,  Geo.  W.  Campbell,  W\  H. 
Morse,  A.  Van  Vorlies,  William  Holcombe,  W.  R.  Brown, 
R.  Watson,  John  A.  Ford,  and  John  E.  Mower.  Dakota 
county,  A.  G.  Chatfield,  S.  W^.  Cook,  Thomas  Foster,  and  A. 
R.  French.  Nicollet  county,  Benjamin  Thompson,  and  Geo. 
H.  McLeod.  Scott  county,  Wm.  H.  Nobles,  and  Daniel 
Apgar,  Pembina,  Norman  W.  Kittson.  Chisago  county, 
N.  C.  D.  Taylor.  On  motion  of  E.  Murphy,  of  Hennepin,  a 
committee  of  three  was  api)ointed  to  draft  a  constitution  and 
by-laws  for  the  government  of  the  society.  E.  Murphy,  A. 
E.  Ames,  and  W.  R.  Brown  were  appointed  said  committee. 
After  the  committee  had  reported  a  constitution  and  by-laws 
for  the  government  of  the  society,  the  following  officers  were 
elected  for  the  year  1854 :  President,  Governor  W.  A.  Gor- 
man ;  vice-presidents,  J.  W.  Selby,  Ramsey  county  ;  R.  M. 
Richardson,  Benton  county  ;  S.  M.  Cook,  Dakota  county  ; 
John  H.  Stevens,  Hennepin  county  ;  Robert  Watson,  Wash- 
ington county  ;  and  Wm.  H.  Nobles,  Scott  county  ;  secretary, 
Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  Hennepin  county  ;  treasurer,  C.  A.  Parker, 
Ramsey  county  ;  executive  committee,  B.  F,  Hoyt  of  Ramsey, 
W.  R.  Brown  of  Washington,  N.  E.  Stoddard  of  Hennepin, 
Captain  J.  B.  S.  Todd  of  Cass,  and  Wm.  S.  Allison  of  Dakota. 
The  new  society  was  addressed  by  Governor  Gornum, 
Judge  A.  G.  Chatfield,  A.  Stevens,  G.  AV.  Campbell,  J.  AY. 
Selby,  Rev.  B.  F.  Hoyt,  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  S.  M.  Cook,  Dr. 
Thomas  Foster,  Wm.  L.  Ames,  and  AVm?  H.  Nobles.  The 
executive  committee  was  directed  to  take  steps,  if  practicable, 
to  hold  a  territorial  fair  at  some  convenient  place  the  ensuing 


216  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

fall.  From  that  little  beginning  the  present  proud  and 
wealthy  Minnesota  state  agricultural  society  had  its  birth. 
Of  the  original  members  of  the  first  society,  organized  so  long 
ago,  belonging  to  the  present  state  society,  John  H.  Stevens, 
of  Hennepin,  alone  answered  to  the  roll-call  at  the  January 
meeting  in  1889.  • 

The  demand  for  brick  had  become  so  great  in  both  St. 
Anthony  and  Minneapolis,  it  was  determined  that  steps  should 
be  taken  to  manufacture  them  at  the  falls  early  in  the  spring 
of  1854.  A  company  consisting  of  Messrs.  R.  P.  Russell, 
Isaac  I.  Lewis,  David  Bickford,  and  John  H.  Stevens,  was 
organized  for  the  purpose  on  the  15th  of  December.  Mr. 
Lewis  was  appointed  agent,  and  was  directed  to  purchase  one 
hundred  cords  of  wood  for  burning  the  brick. 

Charles  N.  Harris,  a  boy  who  resided  with  his  uncle  John 
W.  North,  in  St.  Anthony,  was  riding  a  horse,  when  the 
animal  became  frightened,  reared,  and  fell  backward  upon  the 
boy,  nearly  crushing  him  to  death.  One  leg  was  broken 
above  the  knee,  and  he  received  other  serious  injury,  but 
recovered.  That  boy  became  a  brave  soldier  in  the  First 
Minnesota  regiment,  and  was  shot  through  the  breast  at  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  left  by  his  comrades  upon  the  battle- 
field, supposed  to  be  dead,  and  so  reported.  His  funeral 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Crary,  in  the  presence  of  a 
large  audience,  at  Richfield,  in  Hennepin  county,  where  his 
parents  and  sisters  resided.  After  lying  upon  the  ground  for 
many  hours  in  the  heat  and  until  his  wound  was  alive  with 
worms,  he  was  taken  by  the  confederates  to  the  famed  tobacco- 
warehouse  prison  at  Richmond,  whence  he  was,  after  many 
days,  sent  north  in  exchange  of  prisoners.  After  the  war 
Mr.  Harris  was  for  eight  years  a  district  judge  in  Nevada, 
Like  his  uncle  North,  he  is  a  talented  speaker  and  writer. 
I  think  he  now  resides  in  California,  as  dt)es  also  Mr.  North 
and  Dr.  Crary. 

St.  Anthony,  as  usual,  received  a  valuable  immigration  dur- 
ing the  season  of  1853.  Hon.  Henry  T.  Welles,  Dr.  A.  E. 
Johnson,  the  Baldwins,  father  and  two  sons,  and  several 
others,  who  have  since  become  prominent  in  the  history  of 
the  state,  made  the  village  their  home.  It  was  estimated  that 
the  town  increased  a  third  or  more  in  population.     At  the 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  217 

close  of  the  year  every  one  seemed  satisfied  with  the  progress 
made  in  everything  that  wns  beneficial  to  the  place. 

A    THANKSGIVING    SERMON     AS     PROPHETIC    AS    IT    IS     DEVOUT. 

Rev.  C.  Secombe,  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church,  in  a 
sermon  in  anticipation  of  the  coming  thanksgiving,  the  last  of 
December,  said  that  "  the  calls  for  thanksgiving  at  the  presen 
"  time,  are  neither  few  nor  small.  We  inhabit  a  charming 
"  country.  The  '  green  pastures'  and  '  still  waters'  of  the  sweet 
"  singer  of  Israel,  here  find  a  remarkable  exemplification.  For 
"  so  high  a  latitude,  we  seem  to  make  as  near  an  approach  to 
"Italian  scenery-  the  charming  inspirer  of  the  rustic  muse — 
"  as  the  length  of  our  season  will  admit  of.  Minnesota,  with  its 
"carnelian  lakes  and  laughing  water  falls,  verdant  prairies  and 
"  groves  of  oak,  the  magnificent  bluffs  and  occasional  grottoes, 
"  can  scarcely  fail  of  becoming  the  birth-place  of  the  poet, 
"  whose  soul-inspiring  theme  shall  breathe  the  fragrance  of 
"  classic  purity,  and  a  christian  devotion  upon  the  latest  gen- 
"  eration.  AVith  its  productive  soil,  and  genial  seasons,  it  is 
"  destined  to  minister  a  wealth  not  to  be  despised  even  in  so 
"great  a  nation.  With  the  bracing  clime  and  healthy  atmos- 
"  pliere,  it  is  destined  to  produce  a  race  of  men  who  \^11  make 
'the  world  feel  their  influence.  With  its  central  position,  it 
"  will  command  at  once  the  advantages  of  the  north,  the  south, 
'"  the  east,  and  the  west ;  already  but  a  few  days  ride  from  the 
"  Atlantic,  its  geographical  distance  is  but  little  more  to  the 
"  Pacific,  while  its  communication  with  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  is 
"  the  most  easy  and  direct  that  the  country  affords.  Such  are 
"  the  circumstances  in  which  a  kind  Providence  has  cast  our 
"  lot.  Is  there  not  occasion  here  for  the  most  devout  gratitude  ? 
"As  we  celebrate  this  annual  Thanksgiving  festival  of  our 
"fathers — as  we  remember  their  noble  deeds  who  now  slumber 
"  in  the  dust — as  we  remember  that  God  is  now  calling  lis, 
"  their  sons,  to  give  a  character  to  this  lovely  i)ortion  of  our 
"  great  inheritance — how  should  our  hearts  swell  with  emotions 
"  of  gratitude  !  How  should  our  bosoms  heave  with  a  country's 
"love  !  How  should  our  souls  burn  with  the  noble  purpose, 
"  that  nought  of  the  high  responsibility  which  has  thus  been 
"laid  upon  our  shoulders,  shall  ever  fall  to  the  ground  !" 


CHAPTEK  XXXI. 

IMPROVEMENTS   IN   HENNEPIN   COUNTY. 

The  citizens  of  Hennepin  county  outside  of  Minneapolis,  at 
the  close  of  the  season,  had  great  reason  to  be  thankful  for  the 
progress  made  during  the  year.  The  farmers  had  harvested 
a  bountiful  crop,  and  had  a  large  breadth  of  land  j^rej^ared  for 
the  reception  of  seed  the  next  spring.  Some  five  hundred 
farmers  had  made  claims  to  land  since  the  opening  of  navi- 
gation. Mills  for  the  convenience  of  the  farmers  had  been 
erected  and  finished  in  Minneapolis,  St.  Anthony,  Minnetonka, 
at  the  mouth  of  Minnehaha  stream  and  on  that  water-course 
in  Richfield.  The  latter  had  been  built  in  the  most  substan- 
tial manner  by  Philander  Prescott,  his  son-in-law  Eli  Petti- 
john,  and  Willis  G.  Moffett,  and  was  capable  of  manu- 
facturing large  quantities  of  flour  of  the  choicest  quality. 

The  tendency  of  the  immigration  was  west  and  south  of 
Minnea])olis.  The  Excelsior  colony  had  located  many  farmers 
on  the  borders  of  Lake  Minnetonka.  Others  also  settled  on 
the  lake  who  did  not  belong  to  the  colony.  James  Shaver, 
jr.,  Wm.  B.  Harrington,  John  P.  Miller,  D.  P.  Spafford,  A. 
N.  Gray,  Samuel  Bartow,  R.  E.  McKinney,  C.  E.  Dow,  Ste- 
phen Hull,  William  Linlithgow,  E.  C.  Willey,  Peter  M. 
Gideon,  A.  P.  Biernan,  and  R.  H.  McGrath,  were  among  the 
prominent  farmers,  each  of  whom  made  claims  of  a  quarter- 
section  of  land.  All  the  members  of  the  cokmy,  including  the 
president,  Geo.  M.  B(?rtram,  and  the  i)astor,  Rev.  Chas.  Galpin, 
also  claimed  a  (piarter-section.  All  these  claims  were  made 
in  the  vicinity  of  Minnetonka.  In  Richfield,  James  Draper, 
Wm.  J.  Duggan,  Chas.  Haeg,  Merriman  McCabe,  J.  A.  Duns- 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  219 

moor,  C.  W.  Harris,  Henry  George,  and  Robert  Townisend, 
John  McCabe,  and  several  other  ])roniinent  men,  made  chams. 

Bl()omin<^ton,  too,  reeeived  many  permanent  farmers,  among 
whom  were  J.  D.  Scotield,  James  Anderson,  William  Bryant, 
and  M.  O.  Reily. 

Minnetrista  for  the  iirst  time  was  occupied  by  Joseph  and 
John  Merz.  Most  of  the  vacant  land  in  Crj'stal  Lake  was 
taken  by  entort)rising  farmers,  including  such  well-known 
men  as  Rufus  Farnham,  jr.,  J).  C.  Crandall,  Peter  Schuller, 
Z.  Gillespie,  David  Morgan,  E.  McCausland,  H.  R.  Stillman, 
J.  S.  Malbon,  and  Josiah  Dutton. 

In  Brooklyn,  John  M.  Durnman,  John  W.  G-oodale,  Asa 
Howe,  C.  R.  Howe,  Sylvanus  Jenkins,  N.  H.  Jenkins,  Jacob 
Longfellow,  AV.  W.  Wales,  Jr.,  and  Thomas  Warwick. 

In  Champlin,  Joseph  Holt,  Augustus  Holt,  John  Pike,  B. 
E.  Messer,  Rev.  Lewis  Atkinson,  R.  H.  Miller,  F.  Thomdyke, 
John  Shumway,  and  Colby  Emery. 

In  Dayton  the  immigration  was  tardy  in  reaching  that 
beautiful  townshi]),  though  Paul  Godine  settled  in  the  pre- 
cincts of  the  town  as  early  as  1851.  In  1853  John  Veine 
made  a  claim  where  the  village  of  Dayton  now  stands.  Other 
claims  were  taken  up  this  year  by  Marcelles  Boulee,  Benjamin 
Leveillier,  Daniel  Lavallee,  Anthony  Gelinas,  Louis  Bibeault, 
Moses  Desjarlois,  and  Edward  Greenwood. 

Plymouth  received  its  first  settler  this  year  in  the  person 
of  Antoine  Le  C«5unt,  who  made  a  claim  on  the  east  side  of 
Medicine  Lake,  late  in  October.  Thomas  Hughes,  with  a 
large  familj^  of  boys,  made  a  claim  in  the  town  about  the  same 
time.  There  were  several  other  farmers  settled  in  different 
parts  of  the  county  this  year,  whose  names  I  am  unable  to 
mention  at  this  time. 

The  father  of  Antoine  Le  Count,  who  was  known  to  the 
early  settlers  as  a  man  by  the  name  of  Le  Gros,  was  a  guide  to 
many  of  the  exi)editions  which  were  so  common  in  the  north- 
west in  the  territorial  days.  Home  of  these  expeditions  were 
of  a  scientific  nature  ;  others  for  trading  with  the  aborigines. 
Le  Gros  resided  for  a  short  time  in  this  neighborhood  at  a 
very  early  day,  and  was  employed  by  Franklin  Steele  to  reside 
on  Nicollet  island.  His  home  proper  was  on  the  banks  of  the 
Red  river  of  the  north,  near,  but  this  side  of,  the  Canadian 


220  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

line.  Pierre  Bottineau  served  an  apprenticeship  to  him  as  a 
guide  when  he  had  scarcely  reached  his  teens.  LeGros  met 
with  a  violent  death  on  the  14th  day  of  June,  1840,  on  the 
plains.  He  was  shot  by  the  distinguished  explorer,  Thomas 
Simpson.  The  latter  discovered  in  the  Arctic  country  the 
region  known  as  Victoria  Land.  He  had  employed  Le  Gros 
to  pilot  him  'from  Fort  Garry,  in  the  British  possessions,  to 
Fort  Snelling.  It  is  supposed  that  Simpson  became  deranged, 
shot  Le  Gros,  and  another  member  of  the  expedition  by  the 
name  of  Bird,  and  then  killed  himself.  Antoine  Le  Count, 
the  first  settler  in  Plymouth  township,  was  a  member  of  the 
expedition  and  witnessed  the  sad  occurrence. 

D.    M.    HANSON. 

Among  the  early  citizens  of  Minneapolis,  there  was  perhaps 
no  one  more  prominent  in  all  that  related  to  the  public  welfare 
than  Domiticus  M.  Hanson.  He  was  a  son  of  William  Han- 
son, one  of  the  earliest  and  most  respected  of  the  settlers,  who 
had  also  several  other  boys.  The  family  had  for  several  years 
great  influence  in  the  Adllage  and  county.  D.  M.  Hanson  was 
a  lawyer,  and  a  politician.  A  fine  speaker,  with  pleasing 
address,  and  an  ardent  democrat,  he  had  pretty  much  his  own 
way  in  voicing  the  sentiment  of  his  party.  He  excelled  as  a 
stump-speaker,  and  while  the  county  was  undoubtedly  strong 
in  its  whig  tendencies,  Mr.  Hanson  was  this  year  elected 
district-attorney  on  the  democratic  ticket.  The  next  year, 
in  1854,  he  was  a  candidate  on  the  democratic  ticket  with  H. 
H.  Sibley,  fqr  the  house  of  representatives,  for  the  winter 
session  of  1855,  and  was  triumphantly  elected.  In  the  fall  of 
1855  he  was  the  candidate  on  the  democratic  ticket  for  the 
council,  and  elected.  At  the  close  of  the  session  of  the  legis- 
lature, on  March  1,  1856,  Mr.  Hanson  returned  to  his  Minne- 
apolis home.  He  only  lived  a  few  days  after  the  close  of  the 
session.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  only  twenty-eight 
years  old.  With  his  talent,  ambition,  and  industry,  had  his 
life  been  extended  to  this  period,  he  woidd  undoubtedly  have 
occupied  tlie  lngh(>st  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  people  of  this 
state.  He  left  a  widow,  but  no  children.  At  one  time  he, 
with  his  father  and  brothers,  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  in 
this  city  below  Tenth  avenue  south.  He  had  a  large  practice 
as  a  lawyer,  but  in   consequence  of  his  jiolitical  work,  when 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND   ITS    PKOl'LE.  221 

Judge  Cornell  came  to  this  city,  in  the  spring  of  1854,  he 
formed  a  ])artnership  with  him,  and  turned  over  the  most  of 
his  law  i:)ractioe  to  the  judge.  At  one  time  Mr.  Hanson's  name 
was  a  household  word,  not  only  in  Minneapolis,  8t.  Anthony, 
and  Hennepin  county,  but  throughout  the  territory  ;  now  there 
is  not  one  citizen  in  one  hundred  in  MinneajK)lis  who  ever 
heard  of  it.  Out  of  his  father's  large  family,  there  is  only 
one  a  resident  of  the  state,  (xilbert  Hanson  resides  in  Otter- 
tail  county.  Another  brother,  Randall,  was  several  years  ago 
chief  of  police  in  this  city,  when  Geo.  A.  Brackett  was  mayor. 
He  now  resides  on  the  Pacific  slope.  The  father  and  mother 
of  this  once  large  and  influential  family,  with  all  their  children 
except  the  two  mentioned,  are  in  the  si)irit-land. 

Among  the  citizens  of  Hennepin  county  who  selected  farms 
within  its  precincts,  is  J.  D.  Scofield,  who  took  a  claim  in 
Bloomington,  and  resides  on  it  to  this  day.  Mr.  Scofield  has 
been  prominent  in  organizations  beneficial  to  the  farmers. 
Samuel  Bartow  also  this  year  settled  on  the  banks  of  Lake 
Minnetonka.  He  continues  to  reside  on  the  old  farm.  Mr. 
Bartow  has  held  many  prominent  offices,  including  that  of 
county  commissioner.  Another  settler  on  the  shores  of  the 
lake  this  year  was  Wm.  B.  Harrington.  He  was  a  descend- 
ant of  the  Puritan  Govei'uor  Bradford,  of  the  Plymouth  colony. 
Mr.  Harrington's  father,  Hon.  John  Harrington,  was  a  native 
of  Vermont.  Both  of  his  grandfathers  were  soldiers  in  the 
revolutionary  army.  Mr.  Harrington  was  a  man  of  great 
worth.  He  died  several  years  ago  at  Hutchinson,  in  McLeod 
county.  His  eldest  son.  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Harrington,  resides  at 
Excelsior.  He  is  a  popular  clergyman  of  the  Universalist 
church.     He  also  edits  a  newspaper. 

PETER    M.    GIDEON. 

Perhaj)s  Minnesota  was  never  more  fortunate  in  the  recep- 
tion of  a  new-comer  than  she  was  this  year  in  the  person  of 
Peter  M.  Gideon,  who  also  made  a  home  on  the  borders  of 
Minnetonka.  Since  his  residence  on  his  farm,  he  has  become 
a  distinguished  pomologist,  and  has  made  a  world-wide  repu- 
tation in  introducing  new  varieties  of  fruit,  shade  and  orna- 
mental trees.  He  has  accomplished  a  great  work  in  the 
northwest  in  regard  to  raising  hardy  sorts  of  apple-trees, 
which  survive  our  rigorous  climate.     Mr.  Gideon  still  resides 


222  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

on  a  portion  of  the  land  he  first  claimed  so  many  years  ago. 
He  is  a  native  of  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
bom  in  1820.  He  commenced  fruit-growing  in  Minnesota  the 
year  after  his  first  arrival  in  the  territory.  His  labor  in  his 
experiments  with  fruit,  flowers,  shade  and  ornamental  trees, 
has  been  very  successful.  For  many  years  he  has  been  the 
superintendent  of  the  state  experimental  fruit-farm  founded 
in  1878.  Among  the  varieties  of  apples  of  great  merit,  he  has 
originated  the  Wealthy,  Peter,  and  Grace.  He  has  also  some 
forty  new  varieties  of  seedlings  which  promise  to  be  of  value 
to  the  fruit-growers  of  the  west,  but  they  are  not  yet  fully 
developed. 

Eev.  Stephen  Hull,  who  was  the  first  actual  settler  on  the 
upper  Minnetonka  Lake,  was  a  man  of  much  more  than 
ordinary  ability.  In  his  earlier  years  he  had  occupied  the 
pulpit  of  a  prominent  eastern  Universalist  church.  I^e 
resigned  the  pastorate  and  came  west.  He  selected  a  beauti- 
ful site  on  the  narrows  of  the  lake  and  erected  w^hat  was  at 
that  time  a  good  substantial  dwelling,  and  cleared  off  quite  a 
farm,  which  he  worked  for  several  years.  The  narrows,  so- 
called,  between  the  upper  and  lower  lake,  bear  his  name  to 
this  day.  His  old  home  is  now  the  site  of  the  Lake  Park 
grounds.  Mr.  Hull  made  his  claim  in  February  of  this  year. 
He  was  a  just,  honest  man,  and  when  in  after  years  he  sold 
his  farm  and  went  to  Missouri,  his  friends  and  neighbors 
greatly  regretted  his  removal. 

In  April  AViiliam  Linlithgow,  a  young  man  of  much  promise, 
arrived  in  the  territory  from  near  Boston  and  selected  a  claim 
joining  Mr.  Hull's.  Mr.  Linlithgow  was  of  Scotch  descent, 
and  what  was  uncommon  in  those  days,  with  most  of  those 
seeking  homes  in  the  west,  he  was  wealthy.  After  graduating 
from  one  of  the  most  prominent  eastern  colleges,  he  had 
traveled  extensively  in  both  the  old  and  new  world.  To  this 
day  it  is  a  mystery  why  he  selected  the  banks  of  Minnetonka 
for  his  home.  A  refined,  polished  man,  with  more  money 
than  he  had  immediate  use  for,  he  quietly  settled  down  with 
a  single  male  servant,  in  a  romantic  spot  on  the  lake,  declar- 
ing that  it  should  be  his  home  for  life  :  and  it  was.  Late  in 
the  summer  of  1854,  while  going  from  his  residence  to  Min- 
netonka mills,  in  a  beautiful  yacht,  which  he  had  constructed* 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  223 

he  was  overtaken  by  a  storm,  and  perished  in  the  lake.  Quite 
recently,  at  the  same  i^lace,  Mayor  Hand,  and  others,  lost 
their  lives.  Mr.  Linlithgow's  body  was  fomid  several  days  after 
his  death,  washed  ashore,  but  his  yacht  remains  at  the  bottom 
of  the  lake.  Early  settlers  in  the  county  mourned  his  death. 
A  relative  from  the  east  came  and  setthnl  his  estate,  but  the 
principal  events  of  his  life,  previous  to  his  cominj^  to  Minne- 
sota, remain  unknown  to  his  western  friends.  One  of  the 
latter  so  greatly  lamented  his  death  that  it  was  more  than 
twenty  years  after  that  sad  event,  before  he  would  take  pas- 
sage on  any  water-craft  whatever  on  that  lake. 

SCHOOLS  IN  THE  COUNTY — THANKSGIVING. 
At  th(»  exi)iration  of  the  year  1853  there  was  only  one  school 
outside  of  Minneapolis,  with  the  exception  of  the  scliool  at 
Fort  Snelling,  which  had  for  years  been  taught  by  the  post 
chaplain  for  the  education  of  the  children  of  the  soldiers  in 
the  garrison.  At  Oak  Grove  mission  Rev.  G.  H.  Pond  had, 
since  1843,  been  instrumental  in  maintaining  a  school  for  the 
Indian  children.  In  Crystal  Lake  township  a  school-district 
was  organized  according  to  law.  The  district  included  the 
whole  north  half  of  the  county.  A  school,  and  a  good  one, 
was  taught  by  a  Miss  Smith,  in  a  claim-shanty  that  was  on  the 
land  that  subsequently  became  the  property  of  J.  Gillespie. 
This  was  the  first  regular  district-school  taught  in  any  portion 
of  Hennepin  county  proper,  outside  the  village  of  Minneapolis. 
Our  new  governor,  W.  A.  Gorman,  named  Thursday,  the 
22d  day  of  December,  this  year,  for  thanksgiving.  All  the 
different  religious  denominations  in  Minneai)olis  joined,  and 
attended  Eev.  J.  C.  Whitney's  church,  when  Mr.  Whitney 
gave  us  one  of  the  best  and  most  practical  sermons  delivered 
before  or  since  in  this  city.  At  that  time  there  were  several 
different  denominations  of  Christians  in  the  village,  but  only 
one  resident  pastor,  Mr.  Whitney.  It  is  true  we  occasionally 
had  preaching.  Rev.  G.  H.  Pond  had  the  use  of  my  parlors 
for  holding  meetings  ;  so  had  other  preachers  the  same  priv- 
ilege ;  but  at  the  close  of  the  year  there  was  only  one  resident 
clergyman  in  Minneapolis. 

There  were  six  deaths  in  Hennepin  county  in  1853  :  Mrs. 
Colonel  Case  in  the  spring,  another  lady  of  consumption, 
and  four  infants. 


CHAPTEE  XXXIL 

BUSINESS  SITUATION  IN   ST.   ANTHONY  JANUARY   IST,   1854. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1854  St.  Anthony  contained 
the  following  mercantile  establishments  :  D.  Baldwin  &  Son, 
James  A.  Leunon,  S.  Stanchfield,  E.  Ball,  Eichard  Fewer, 
Moulton,  Walker  &  Gardner,  N.  Hendry,  N.  Hohler,  D.  E. 
E.  P.  Mills,  Holmes  &  Toser,  J.  G.  Lennon,  A.  King,  E.  P. 
Upton,  James  C.  Tufffs,  Henry  Eeynolds,  Dr.  H.  W. 
Whitemore,  John  Holland  &  Joseph  McAlpin,  Z.  E.  B. 
Nash  &  Edgar  Nash.  There  were  two  cabinet  manufactories, 
Stearns  &  Manseur,  and  J.  B.  Luchsinger  ;  one  plow  manu- 
facturer, A,  Leaming  ;  two  carriage-makers,  Bassett  &  Leh- 
man, and  Francis  Sampson.  There  were  two  fancy  and 
ornamental  establishments,  those  of  Alvin  Stone,  and  B.  E. 
Messer  ;  three  sash  and  door  factories,  by  Orin  Eogers  & 
Co.,  Duman  &  Vail,  and  Elias  H.  Connor.  These  gentlemen 
carried  on  an  extensive  contracting  and  building  business. 
There  were  two  blacksmiths,  S.  E.  Foster,  and  E.  Lippencott  ; 
one  harness-maker,  William  Spooner  ;  one  watch-maker  and 
jeweller,  J.  C.  McCain  ;  three  milliners,  Miss  Henderson, 
Mrs.  Eay,  and  Mrs.  S.  McCain  ;  four  boot  and  shoe  estab- 
lishments, those  of  John  Wensinger,  J.  E.  McFarland,  S.  C. 
Clark,  and  J.  J.  Kennedy  ;  two  tailors,  J.  Piddington,  located 
in  1851,  and  A.  Bacon  ;  one  civil  engineer  and  surveyor,  C. 

B.  Chapman  ;  one  meat-shop,  by  Samuel  Eoss  ;  two  dauguer- 
reotypists,  T.  Elwell,  and  J.  E.  McFarland  ;  eleven  lawyers, 
Isaac  Atwater,  A.  E.  Dodge,  John  W.  North,  C.  Gardner, 
E.  L.  Hall,  W.  Eichardson,  D.  A.  Secombe,  A.  D.  Shaw,  J 

C.  Shepley,  J.  H.  Trader,  and  S.   M.  Tracy  ;  five  physicians' 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  225 

Dr.  Murphy,  Dr.  Anderson,  Dr.  Johnson,  Dr.  Ira  Kingsley, 
and  Dr.  C.  Jodon  ;  two  newspapers,  the  Express,  and  the 
Northwestern  Democrat  ;  one  brewery,  by  John  Orth,  located 
in  1850  ;  one  baker,  Geo.  Wezel  ;  three  hotels,  St.  Charles  by 
M.  W.  Keith,  St.  Anthony  hotel  by  Col.  West,  and  the  Tem- 
})erance  house  liy  Samuel  Ross  ;  two  saloons,  by  B.  Cloutier, 
and  Brown  &  Smiley  ;  two  livery-stables,  ])y  Allen  &  Co.,  and 
Geo.  F.  Brott ;  one  brick-yard,  by  Vanderpool  &  AValds  ;  two 
storage  and  commission  houses,  by  John  G.  Lennon,  and  J. 
P.  "Wilson  ;  one  grist-mill,  by  J.  Shepherd,  lessee  ;  postoffice, 
by  O.  W.  Rice  ;  churches,  Congregational,  Rev.  C.  Secombe  ; 
Episcopal,  Rev.  Mr.  Chamberlain  ;  Baptist,  Rev.  Lyman 
Palmer  ;  Free-Will  Baptist,  Rev.  C.  G.  Ames  ;  Catholic,  Rev. 
Mr.  Ledon  ;  Methodist,  Rev.  Mr.  Collins  ;  Universalist,  Rev. 
E.  A.  Hodson  ;  one  Masonic  lodge,  Hon.  C.  F.  Stearns,  W. 
Master  ;  one  Odd-Fellows  John  G.  Potts  lodge  No.  3,  installed 
May  29,  1851,  O.  Foote,  N.  G.,  E.  Patch,  V.  G.,  G.  B.  Button, 
secretary,  and  E.  B.  Ramsdell,  treasurer.  In  addition  to  the 
above,  the  extensive  saw-mills  empleyed  much  cajiital,  and  a 
great  many  hands,  in  its  operations.  Under  all  the  happy 
circumstances  surrounding  the  village  the  citizens  had  reason 
to  believe  that  the  year  1854:  would  prove  a  prosperous  one 
for  them. 

The  first  postoffice  established  in  Hennepin  county,  outside 
of  Fort  Snelling,  was  at  Bloomiugton,  the  1st  of  January, 
1854.  Joseph  Dean  was  appointed  postmaster.  The  youthful 
Minneapolis  was  scarcely  behind  Bloomington,  for  a  day  or 
two  later  a  postoffice  was  given  us,  with  Dr.  H.  Fletcher,  f)ost- 
master.  There  was  no  mail  delivered  here  ;  it  was  distribu- 
ted in  the  St.  Anthony  office,  and  usually  was  gathered  by 
Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  who  had,  with  Dr.  Murphy,  an  office  in  St. 
Anthony,  and  on  his  return  home  at  noon,  he  would  carry  the 
few  letters  in  the  crown  of  his  hat. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  on  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  a  settlement  with  the  treasurer  and 
collector  was  effected.  The  whole  county  debt  at  this  time 
was  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars,  and  county  orders 
were  worth  one  hundred  cents  on  the  dollar.  The  greatest 
call  made  upon  the  county  treasury  was  for  money  to  build 
roads  and  bridges.    The  pioneers  had,  in  a  measure,  previously 


226  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

taken  money  out  of  their  pockets  and  built  many  of  the  nec- 
essary roads  and  bridges,  so  the  drain  from  the  treasury  was  not 
so  great  as  it  would  have  ])eeu  had  not  these  roads  and  bridges 
been  previously  built.  They  had  to  act  in  the  same  way,  that 
schools  and  churches  might  be  built  and  maintained.  There 
are  so  many  ways  that  the  pioneer  is  obliged  to  contribute  to 
develop  the  resources  of  a  new  country  it  is  pretty  safe  to  say 
that  his  purse  is  always  a  lean  one. 

The  territorial  legislature  convened  at  St.  Paul  on  the  4th. 
Joshua  Draper  of  Minneapolis,  through  the  influence  of  Dr. 
H.  Fletcher,  the  Hennepin  county  member  of  the  house, 
received  the  appointment  of  fireman,  and  Geo.  W.  Prescott, 
through  Messrs.  Gardner  and  Plummer,  was  appointed  clerk 
of  the  house.  This  appointment  of  Mr.  Draper  was  the  first 
one  given  by  the  legislature  to  a  citizen  of  Hennepin  county. 

On  Thursday  the  19th  day  of  January?  1854,  Eev.  J.  C. 
Whitney  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
Minneapolis.  Rev.  G,  H.  Pond  presided.  Eev.  Mr.  Eogers, 
of  the  Baptist  church,  St.  Anthony,  offered  prayer.  Rev.  C. 
Secombe  preached  the  sermon.  Rev.  H.  M.  Nichols  gave 
the  charge  to  the  pastor  ;  Rev.  E.  D.  Neill,  the  charge  to  the 
people.  The  interesting  exercises  closed  with  the  benediction 
by  the  pastor.  This  was  the  first  installation  of  a  minister  of 
the  gospel  of  any  denomination  in  Minneapolis. 

THE  WINNEBAGO  TREATY. 

Aside  from  the  historical  fact,  perhaps  in  justice  to  those 
who  have  passed  away,  mention  should  be  made  of  a  public 
meeting  held  in  Minneapolis,  January  21st,  1854,  in  opposition 
to  the  treaty  with  the  Winnebagoes  pending  in  the  United 
States  senate,  the  confirmation  of  which  would  make  the 
Indians  of  that  nation  near  neighbors  of  the  citizens  of  Hen- 
nepin county.  Charles  Hoag  was  called  to  the  chair,  and 
John  H.  Stevens  was  appointed  secretary.  The  object  of  the 
meeting  being  stated.  Dr.  H.  Fletcher,  our  member  of  the 
legislature,  addressed  the  meeting.  He  had  secured  the 
cooperation  of  Hon.  Josei)h  R.  Brown,  Hon.  AVm.  H.  Nobles, 
the  other  two  members  of  the  sixth  council  district  in  the 
legislature,  against  the  measure.  Messrs.  C.  F.  Stearns,  H. 
S.  Plummer,  and  Cephas  Gardner,  members  from  St.  Anthony 
representing  the  third  council  distript,  had  also  heartily  co- 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  227 

eperated  with  them  in  opposition  to  the  treaty.  Messrs.  S. 
Baldwin  Ohnstead,  i)resident  of  the  conncil,  with  Messrs. 
William  Noot,  Wm.  A.  Davis,  and  Louis  Bartlett,  of  the 
second  council  district,  St.  Paul,  had  aided  in  opposition  to 
the  treaty.  Further  remarks  were  made  by  Messrs.  Hoag, 
Harmon,  D.  M.  Hanson,  and  Hoyt,  when  a  series  of  resolu- 
tions was  presented  to  the  meeting  by  John  H.  Stevens, 
seconded  by  D.  M.  Hanson,  and  were  unanimously  adopted. 
Suffice  to  say,  that  owing  to  the  efforts  made  by  the  pioneers 
of  Minneai^olis,  the  treaty  failed. 

Considerable  uneasiness  developed  among  the  settlers  on 
the  late  military  reservation,  early  in  January,  at  the  non- 
action of  congress  in  relation  to  a  bill  which  had,  early  in  the 
session,  been  introdiiced  by  Hon.  R.  C  Malony,  of  Illinois, 
securing  to  them  the  right  of  preemption  to  these  lands. 
Messrs.  Franklin  Steele,  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  and  Edward  Mur- 
phy, proceeded  to  Washington  to  render  such  aid  as  they 
could  to  our  delegate  in  Congress,  and  other  friends  in  that 
body,  to  secure  the  early  passage  of  the  bill.  These  gentle- 
men remained  in  Washington  all  winter,  at  their  own  expense, 
and  labored  faithfully  in  the  interest  of  the  settlers.  They 
secured  the  ordering  of  an  immediate  survey  of  the  land  by 
the  government.  Up  to  the  early  summer  of  1854,  when  the 
survey  did  take  place,  all  the  lines  between  the  settlers  were 
arbitrary.  These  lines  had  been  brought  from  over  the  Mis- 
sissippi river,  by  the  early  local  land-surveyors,  Messrs.  W. 
R.  Marshall,  C.  W.  Christmas,  and  C.  B.  Chapman,  Mhich 
proved,  when  the  government  had  completed  the  regular 
siirvey,  to  be  unusually  accurate.  I  cannot  remember,  at  this 
time,  of  it  being  necessary  to  alter  a  single  boundary  line 
between  the  settlers. 

Dr.  Fletcher  secured  the  passage  of  a  bill,  in  January, 
through  the  territorial  legislature,  confirming  the  action  of 
the  county  commissioners  for  the  Hennepin  court-house,  and 
other  county  buildings.  This  site  was  on  the  high  hill  that 
then  existed  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  present  Nicollet 
house.  It  embraced  about  five  acres  of  land,  and  overtopped 
the  whole  country.  The  surface  was  covered  with  beautiful 
oak  trees,  known  in  the  early  days  as  oak-openings.  The 
land  was  owned  jointly  by  John  Jackins  and  John  H.  Stevens, 


228  .       PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

the  two  entering  into  heavy  bonds  with  the  county  commis- 
sioners to  give  a  warrantee  deed  of  the  land  as  soon  as 
they  had  secured  a  good  title  to  it  from  the  government, 
free  of  charge.  This  land  is  worth  to-day  several  millions  of 
dollars,  but  in  consequence  of  the  rivalry  between  what  was 
then  called  upper  and  lower  Minneapolis,  in  1856  the  site  was 
changed  to  one  in  the  brush  on  Dr.  Ames'  land,  thus  releasing 
Messrs.  Jackins  and  Stevens  from  their  obligations  to  the 
county  ;  but  they  never  made  anything  out  of  the  land, 
and  the  county  was  greatly  the  loser  in  the  change.  There 
was,  however,  two  good  results  from  the  removal  of  the  site 
for  the  court-house,  one  of  which  does  not  concern  the  public  ; 
the  other  was  the  annexation  of  the  fractional  township  in 
which  St.  Anthony  was  situated,  to  Hennepin  county.  In 
order  that  the  measure  might  be  carried  through  the  legisla- 
ture, members  of  that  body  demanded  in  return  for  their  votes 
for  the  removal  of  the  site  of  the  court-house,  the  annexation 
of  St.  Anthony  to  Hennepin  county. 

Another  and  more  important  site-question  occurred  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river.  It  was  demonstrated  that  if  St. 
Anthony  retained  the  site  for  the  University,  more  land  must 
be  secured  for  that  purpose.  The  regents  had  no  money  to 
help  forward  any  beneficial  movement  for  the  University. 
When  it  was  necessary  that  funds  should  be  raised,  they  were 
obliged  to  put  their  hands  in  their  pockets  and  donate  it  in 
such  sums  as  the  exigency  of  the  case  demanded.  Mr.  Steele, 
president  of  the  Board,  contributed  thousands  of  dollars  for 
the  good  work,  for  which  he  never  expected,  wished,  or 
received,  reimbursement.  Judge  Atwater,  Judge  Meeker, 
and  other  regents  residing  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Falls, 
also  paid  large  .sums  for  the  same  purpose.  The  original  site 
was  exchanged  for  the  present  beautiful  one.  Calvin  A. 
Tuttle  and  others  aided  much.  The  land  that  Mr,  Tuttle 
gave  for  this  object  is  to-day  worth  a  large  sum  of  money, 
and  probably  there  are  few  of  the  present  citizens  around  the 
Falls  who  have  any  conception  of  the  sacrifices  these  earnest 
men  made,  so  long  ago,  in  order  that  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota should  not  be  removed  from  their  midst.  It  is  true 
that  they  never  received  any  credit  for  what  they  did  ;  their 
noble  efforts  have   long  since  been   forgotten  by  the  older 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  229 

people  of  the  stJito  ;  the  more  recent  population  never  knew 
it ;  while  thoiisanils  wIkj  art>  now  so  ninch  benefitted  by  the 
university  have  never  found  it  out.  In  order  to  check  the 
strong  sentiment  prevailing  in  the  territoiy,  that  the  univer- 
sity should  be  removed  to  some  point  considerably  south  of 
the  Minnesota  river,  the  regents  were  o])liged  to  force  meas- 
ures in  the  commencement  of  the  buildings,  so  that  St. 
Anthony  would  have  a  charter-right  to  hold  it  for  all  time  to 
come.  When  the  distribution  of  the  sites  for  the  three  great 
public  institutions,  the  capitol,  the  state  university,  and  the 
state  penitentiary,  took  place,  southern  Minnesota  belonged  to 
the  Indians,  as  did  the  whole  of  the  territory  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. After  the  Indian  lands  were  opened  to  settlers,  they 
were  occupied  so  rapidly  it  was  evident  that  in  the  near 
future  those  lands  would  contain  a  large  majority  of  voters  ; 
that  they  could  control  a  majority  in  the  legislature,  and 
being  left  out  in  the  cold  when  the  three  principal  plums 
were  distributed,  it  was  but  natural  they  should  wish  to  have 
a  new  deal,  so  that  the  recently-ceded  territory  should  be  the 
recipient  of  one  or  more  of  these  public  favors.  The  regents 
were  continually  importuned  by  those  residing  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  Falls,  who  were  really  fearful  that  the  uni- 
versity would  he  removed  from  St.  Anthony  to  a  more  central 
place  further  south,  to  commence  the  buildings  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  to  take  immediate  steps  in  every  possible  way 
to  silence  home  complaints  at  what  was  called  non-action  of 
the  board  of  regents  in  making  the  necessary  preparations  for 
the  erection  of  jjermanent  buildings.  Up  to  this  time  the 
bountiful  grant  of  land  by  congress  in  the  interest  of  the 
university  had  not  been  selected  by  the  regents  from  the 
different  sections  of  the  state,  i)rincipally  for  the  reason  that 
the  public  lands  had  not  been  surveyed  by  the  government, 
so  that  selections  could  be  made  in  a  proper  manner.  The 
time  had  now  come  for  action  on  the  part  of  the  regents. 
They  had  by  law  the  right  to  select  any  unclaimed  land, 
timber  or  prairie,  for  the  benefit  of  the  university.  As  a 
member  of  the  board  I  was  appointed,  at  the  January  meet- 
ing, to  proceed  at  once  to  Rum  river  and  select  some  ten 
thousand  acres  of  pine  land  for  the  university.  I  was  further 
directe<l  to  secure  such  assistance  as  would  be  necessary  for 


230  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

this  purpose.  The  services  of  Captain  John  Rollins,  and  his 
nephew  Simon  B.  Bean,  were  obtained,  and  mainly  to  the 
superior  knowledge  o£  these  two  gentlemen,  in  relation  to  the 
best  timber  on  jnue  land,  was  the  university  indebted  for  the 
choicest  tract  that  bounded  the  banks  of  Rum  river  and  its 
tributaries.  It  Avas  not  the  most  pleasant  season  of  the  year 
to  make  the  selection,  but  mid-winter  was  more  favorable 
than  spring,  and  as  the  land  had  been  surveyed,  and 
would  soon  be  in  market,  if  we  obtained  the  best  and  most 
convenient  lands  to  the  river,  the  selections  had  to  be  made 
before  other  parties  laid  claim  to  it.  We  devoted  two  months 
of  the  winter  of  1854  to  securing  these  lands,  paying  all 
attendant  expenses,  without  a  thought  of  charging  the  board 
of  regents,  or  the  state,  for  such  work. 

The  first  Congregational  church  was  dedicated  in  St. 
Anthony  on  the  15th  of  February.  Rev.  S.  Hall  was  master 
of  the  ceremonies.  Messrs.  Galpin  of  Excelsior,  Twitchell  of 
Rum  river  (now  Anoka),  Rice,  and  Secombe,  all  Congrega- 
tional ministers,  and  Rev.  J.  C.  Whitney,  the  Presbyterian 
pastor  of  Minneapolis,  were  present.  This  was  the  first  Con- 
gregational church  dedicated  in  what  is  now  Minnesota. 

The  ice  in  the  river  was  thin  this  winter.  Several  accidents 
of  a  serious,  but  not  fatal,  character  occurred.  Among  the 
victims  was  John  Chambers,  who  lived  on  and  preempted  a 
portion  of  the  present  Brownsdale  farm.  In  crossing  the 
river  he  fell  through  the  ice,  and  was  barely  rescued  alive. 
It  is  said  he  received  injuries  from  which  he  never  recovered. 

The  ferry  over  the  river  commenced  running  March  25. 

St.  Anthony's  early  friend,  Wm.  R.  Marshall,  was  married 
in  Utica,  New  York,  on  the  22d  of  March,  to  Miss  Abby  B., 
daughter  of  George  Langford,  Esq. 

The  third  term  of  the  district  court  of  Hennepin  county 
commenced  April  3,  Judge  Chatfield  presiding.  R.  P.  Russell, 
who  had  recently  moved  over  from  the  St.  Anthony  side,  was 
foreman  of  the  grand  jury.  The  jury  list  contained  the  names 
of  prominent  farmers  in  M'hat  would  now  be  three  counties, 
viz. :  Hennepin,  Carver,  and  Sibley.  The  court  was  in  session 
for  three  weeks,  principally  engaged  in  trying  criminal  cases. 
The  first  civil  suit  tried  in  Hennepin  county,  the  only  civil 
case  of  moment,   was   against  Edward   Murphy  by  Hiram 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  IT«  PKOPLE.  231 

Burlingliam,  to  test  the  fence  cj[uestioii,  wliich  in  the  early 
days  of  the  territory  was  the  source  of  fretjuent  litigation 
among  the  farmers.  As  this  was  the  first  civil  suit  tried  iu 
the  county,  and  a  somewhat  novel  one,  I  will  give  the  points 
in  the  case.  jMr.  Burliugham  had  a  lield  t)f  some  forty  acres 
of  corn.  Mr.  Murphy  had  a  large  herd  of  cattle,  which  he 
had  purchased  in  Illinois.  This  stock  frequently  visited  Mr. 
Burlingham's  corn-field,  and  damaged  the  growing  grain  to 
such  an  extent  that  it  was  not  worth  harvesting.  Mr.  Bur- 
lingliam sued  Mr.  Murjjhy,  the  owner  -of  the  stock  that  had 
destroyed  his  crop,  for  its  value.  Mr.  Murphy  contendf^l 
that,  as  Mr.  Burlingham's  corn-field  M-as  not  feiK-ed,  he  could 
not  be  held  responsible  for  the  damage  his  stock  had  inflicted 
on  it.  The  judge  decided  that  Mr.  jNIurphy  must  })ay  for  the 
loss  of  the  corn  ;  that  in  the  absence  of  statute  law,  in  regaid 
to  fences,  a  person  could  plant  corn  or  other  grain,  without 
fencing  it,  and  if  it  was  destroyed  by  a  neighbor's  stock  the 
owner  of  the  stock  would  have  to  pay  the  damage. 

The  first  conviction  in  the  district  court  was  against  P. 
Gorman,  of  Eden  Prairie,  who  was  found  guilty  of  an  assault 
on  the  person  of  Samuel  Mitchell,  a  farmer  of  that  township. 
If  I  remember  correctly,  because  of  its  being  the  first  convic- 
tion, and  not  a  very  serious  offense,  the  sentence  against  Mr. 
Gorman  was  suspended. 

During  the  session  the  new  court-hoiise,  which  I  had  built 
the  previous  year,  was  destroyed  by  fire,  which  M'as  the  first 
store  destroyed  by  fire  in  Minneapolis. 

A   HASTY   BUT   HAPPY   MARRIAGE   IN   THE  EARLY   DAYS. 

Some  of  the  jurymen,  from  remote  jjarts  of  the  county,  who 
attended  the  session  of  the  court,  were  desirous  of  obtaining 
wives  before  their  return  home.  One  of  them,  John  Maun, 
who  had  a  valuable  claim  on  the  banks  of  the  Minnesota  river, 
just  below  Ohaska,  had  been  a  solditu-  at  Fort  Snelling.  He 
was  a  thrifty  man,  and  was  Ijorn  in  Germany.  He  went  to 
St.  Paul,  tine  Sunday,  to'  find  out  if  there  were  any  German 
girls  coming  into  the  country.  He  fortunately  happened  on 
the  levee  during  the  landing  of  a  down-river  boat  that  con- 
tained many  German  families  who  were  seeking  new  homes 
in  the  territory.  In  watching  them  .land,  John  espied  a 
comely,  healthy-looking  girl  in  a  group  of  women.     "  There," 


232  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

he  said  to  an  acquaintance  who  q,ccompanied  him  to  see  the 
approaching  steamer  land,  "is  my  wife."  He  immediately 
introduced  himself  to  the  parents  of  the  girl,  and  to  the  girl. 
He  was  thirty  years  old,  had  a  good  farm,  and  a  comfortable 
house  ;  had  cows  and  oxen,  and  a  reasonable  amount  of  money. 
He  had  in  fact  everything  to  make  him  comfortable  except  a 
wife.  He  wanted  the  girl  before  him  for  that.  He  prosecuted 
his  suit  with  much  earnestness.  Fortunately  a  member  of  a 
prominent  German  family,  who  had  resided  in  St.  Paul  for 
several  years,  made  his  a;ppearance  on  the  landing  in  the  nick 
of  time,  who  knew  the  parents  of  the  girl  in  the  fatherland, 
a«id  knew  John  in  this  country  equally  well,  and  he  assured 
the  surprised  immigrants  that  John  was  all  that  he  represented 
himself  to  be,  and  that  the  parents  who  secured  him  for  a 
son-in-law  would  never  regret  it.  The  result  was,  that  early 
on  Monday  morning  John  appeared  in  court  with  his  new 
wife.  He  was  readily  excused  from  further  service  on  the 
jury.  He  immediately  proceeded  to  his  farm,  and  from  that 
eventful  morning  that  he  saw  his  wife  land  in  St.  Paul  to  this 
day,  he  never  regretted  his  hasty  marriage.  He  and  his  wife 
are  among  the  most  respected  j^ioneers  of  Carver  county. 
They  have  prospered,  and  John  believes  in  short  courtships. 

Congress  passed,  during  the  last  days  of  March,  a  bill  pro- 
viding for  a  United  States  land-office  in  Minneapolis.  Upon 
its  approval  by  the  President,  that  personage  appointed  E.  P. 
Kussell  receiver,  and  M.  L.  Olds  register.  Both  appointments 
were  popular.  Mr.  Olds  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Olds,  so  long  a 
member  of  congress  from  Ohio.  His  son  was  a  lawyer  of 
much  promise.  On  retiring  from  the  land-office  he  became  a 
divinity  student,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  a  few  years 
since,  he  held  a  high  trust  in  the  Episcopal  church.  Like 
most  of  the  early  clergymen  of  that  church  in  the  territory. 
Rev.  Dr.  Oldg"  was  a  great  worker. 

Messrs.  Geo.  E.  Huy  and  E.  P.  Eussell  had  erected  a  large 
frame  building  at  the  corner  of  Eight  avenue  south  and 
Washingtxjn  avenue  for  the  accommodation  of  the  new  land- 
office.  This  was  the  most  commodious  and  expensive  building 
that  had  been  erected  in  Minneapolis  up  to  that  time.  In 
addition  to  numerous  offices,  it  contained  large  halls. 


CHAPTEK  XXXni. 

SURVEY  OF  THE  VILLAGE  IN  EIGHTEEN  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY-FOUR. 

When  I  think  it  was  only  thirty-five  years  ago  that  I  deci(kMl 
to  survey  a  portion  of  my  ferry-farm  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony 
into  village  building-lots,  the  transformations  I  have  witnessed 
seem  like  a  fairy  tale,  a  magic  vision.  Froiu  the  virgin  prairie 
to  a  solid  city  of  two  hundred  thousand  persons,  teeming  with 
life,  full  of  energy,  ambition  and  hope,  this  marvelous  western 
development  bids  fair  to  rival  oriental  si)lendor. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  withstand  the  constant  importuni- 
ties for  building-lots  on  the  ferry -farm,  and  to  prevent  the 
lower  portions  of  the  town  from  taking  the  lead  in  various 
enterprises  that  were  near  at  hand,  I  determined  to  survey  a 
portion  of  the  farm  into  building-lots  ;  consequently  I  secured 
the  services  of  Chas.  W.  Christmas  to  survey  and  plat  over 
one  hundred  acres  into  village  lots.  I  determined  at  first  to 
make  the  streets  eighty  feet  wide,  the  avenues  one  hundred 
feet  wide,  the  lots  to  contain  as  near  as  might  be  a  quarter  of 
an  acre  of  land  each,  the  blocks  to  consist  of  ten  lots  each, 
making  two  and  a  half  acres  to  each  block.  As  no  one  expected 
at  that  time  that  much  of  the  land  back  of  the  first  plateau 
would  ever  be  used  for  any  other  than  agricultural  purposes, 
after  consulting  with  all  the  claimants  up  and  down  the  river 
immediately  adjoining  my  land,  we  concluded  there  should  be 
one  avenue  laid  out  running  i)arallel  with  the  river, 'which 
should  be  the  basis  for  laying  out  the  toT%'n  ;  that  the  name  of 
this  avenue  should  l)e  AVashington.  This  decision  with  regard 
to  laying  out  the  i)rincipal  avenue  in  such  a  manner  as  to  run 
parallel  with  the  ri^er  as  the  foundation  for  laying  out  all  the 


234  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

other  land  into  streets,  avenues,  lots  and  l)locks,  was  a  great 
error,  an  error  that,  had  my  foresight  been  as  good  as  my 
present  sight,  would  never  have  occurred.  What  I  shoidd  have 
done,  was  to  have  paid  no  attention  to  the  windings  of  the 
river,  but  ran  the  streets  directly  east  and  west,  and  the 
avenues  directly  north  and  south.  As  all  the  land  subse- 
quently laid  out  and  platted  in  Minneapolis  had  for  a  starting- 
point  my  first  survey,  it  made  me  responsible  for  all  time  for 
this  unfortunate  early  mistake.  Pretty  as  the  city  is,  it 
would  have  presented  a  far  better  appearance  had  the  points 
of  compass  been  followed  rather  than  the  windings  of  the 
river.  The  only  city  1  had  lived  in,  previous  to  coining  to 
Minnesota,  was  New  Orleans,  and  I  admired  the  English  part 
so  much  more  than  the  old  French  portion  of  it,  that  I  decided 
to  follow,  as  far  as  2:)racticable,  the  former  in  laying  out  and 
platting  Minneapolis  proper.  Most,  if  not  all  the  cities  on 
the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries,  at  this  time, 
had  the  i3rincipal  part  of  the  business  confined  to  pretty  near 
the  steamboat  landings.  The  idea  was  general  that  the  stores 
and  shops  would  be  close  to  the  banks  of  the  river  ;  and  so 
they  were  at  first  ;  none  could  be  prevailed  upon  to  invest 
very  far  back  from  the  river.  No  one  ever  supposed  at  that 
time  that  Minneapolis  would  expand  into  a  city  of  more  than 
fifty  or  sixty  thousand  inhabitants,  and  many  looked  upon 
my  platting  the  streets  and  avenues  so  wide  as  a  great  waste 
of  land  ;  and  on  some  accounts  I  am  rather  inclined  to  think 
it  would  have  been  j^referable  to  have  reduced  the  width  of 
the  avenues  and  streets  about  twenty  feet  ;  especially  when 
we  take  into  account  the  great  cost  of  leaving,  and  other  nec- 
essary exjjense  in  keeping  them  in  repair. 

NAMING  THE  STREETS  AND  AVENUES. 

In  naming  the  avenues  I  commenced  with  Hennepin,  calling 
it  after  the  discoverer  of  the  Falls  ;  then  Nicollet,  after  the 
French  explorer  ;  then  Minnetonka,  from  the  lake  by  that 
name.  All  tlu'  other  avenues,  except  Second  avenue  south, 
were  named  after  the  territories,  Oregon,  Utah,  California, 
Kansas,  Nebraska,  and  so  on.  Second  avenue  south  I  named 
after  my  wife,  calling  it  Helen,  in  honor  of  the  first  woman 
who  permanently  resided  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Falls.  The 
streets  were  numbered  the  same  as  they  are  to-day.     The  city 


I 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    IIS    J'KOIT.K.  235 

council  clia'iiged  the  names  of  the  avenues,  thus  blotting  out 
my  many  old  land-marks  ;  but  probably  it  is  niiicli  more  con- 
venient to  say  "  First  avenue  soutli,"  instead  of  Minnetonka 
avenue,  the  (»ld  name  I  had  given  to  it.  I  directed  Mr. 
Christmas  to  survey  an  alley  through  each  l)lock.  The  sur- 
vey was  comi)leted  May  1st,  1S54.  Several  lots  were  imme- 
diately disposed  of — I  should  say  rather  given  away,  provided 
the  recipient  would  build  a  house  thereon  not  to  cost  less 
than  three  hundred  dollars.  As  no  deeds  would  be  lawful, 
none  were  given  ;  neither  were  memoranda  or  articles  of 
agreement  signed.  I  trusted  them,  and  they  trusted  me,  and 
when  the  proper  time  came,  they  received  deeds  for  their 
land.  So  it  was  with  all  others  who  had  obtained  and  settled 
on  lots  belonging  to  preemptors,  before  the  land  was  entered. 

The  first  lot  selected  on  the  ferry-farm  claim,  after  it  was 
laid  out  and  platttnl,  was  by  Isaac  I.  Lewis.  It  was  the  present 
site  of  Harlow  AV.  Gale's  market-house,  corner  of  Hennepin 
avenue  and  First  street.  Mr.  Lewis  erected  a  large  dwelling 
and  store  on  it,  and  in  company  with  Mr.  Bickford  opened  the 
largest  stock  of  goods,  outside  of  Fort  Snelliug,  in  Hennepin 
county.  E.  H.  Davie  and  John  Caliif  followed  Mr.  Lewis. 
They  also  selected  a  lot  on  Hennepin  avenue,  built  on  it,  and 
opened  a  hardware-  and  stove-store,  which  was  the  first  one  in 
the  county.  Levi  BroM'u,  from  Maine,  established  a  black- 
smith shop  on  the  site  of  the  present  Northwestern  bank 
building.  This  was  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in  Minneapolis, 
but  not  in  Hennepin  county  ;  there  was  one  at  the  Minnetonka 
mills  a  year  before  ;  and  Victor  Chatel  had  for  years  been  the 
Indian  blacksmith  at  Oak  Grove  mission,  now  Bloomington. 

James  F.  Bradley,  from  New  England,  opened  a  large 
carriage  factoi-y  at  Murphy's  ferry  in  the  lower  town.  This 
was  the  first  carriage  factory  in  Hennepin  county.  Hoyt  and 
Van  Nest  brought  into  Minneapolis  an  extensive  livery  and 
established  stables  on  Third  street  near  Third  avenue  south. 
This  was  the  first  livery-stable  in  Hennepin  county. 

Geo.  E.  Huy,  from  the  Minneajjolis  mill  com2)any,  opened 
a  large  lumber-yard  between  the  river  and  "Washington  avenue 
on  Eighth  avenue  south.  This  was  the  first  lumber-yard  in 
Minneapolis.  Geo.  M.  Bertram,  president  of  the  Excelsior 
colony,   moved   into   Minneapolis   and   oi)ened  an  extensive 


236  PERSONAL    RECOLLEC'J'IONS 

merchant-tailoring  establishment  over  Mr.  Lewis'  store.  This 
was  the  first  tailor-shop  in  Minneapolis.  Z.  M.  Brown  moved 
over  from  St.  Anthony  and,  at  the  lower  ferry,  started  the 
first  tin-shop  in  Minneapolis.  Mrs.  A.  Morrison  accompanied 
her  hnsband,  Adam  Morrison,  out  from  New  York,  and 
opened  the  first  millinery  shop  in  Minneapolis.  She  selected 
Cataract,  now  Sixth  avenne  south,  as  her  place  of  business. 
A  few  weeks  later.  Miss  Bertram,  from  New  York  city,  estab- 
lished a  ladies'  dress-making  house  at  Mr.  Hoag's. 

A.  K.  Hartwell  came  over  from  St.  Anthony  and  opened  an 
insurance  office,  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  county.  John  M. 
Anderson,  so  long  in  the  express  business  in  this  city,  came 
out  from  New  York  and  brought  with  him  a  choice  assortment 
of  books  and  stationery,  which  he  offered  for  sale  in  the 
Craft's  building,  the  first  store  of  the  kind  in  the  county.     , 

John  Morrison,  also  from  New  York,  came  out  with  Mr. 
Anderson,  and  opened  the  first  gun-  and  locksmith-shop  in  the 
county,  on  Cataract  street.  Wm.  G.  Murphy  opened  the  first 
harness-  and  saddle-shop  in  the  city,  on  Hennepin  avenue. 

Messrs.  Geo.  N.  Propper  and  Carlos  Wilcox  opened,  in  the 
government  land-office  building,  a  loan  and  land  agency,  the 
first  in  the  city. 

Our  postoffice  at  this  time  (spring  of  1854  )  was  in  a  store 
that  the  postmaster,  Dr.  H.  Fletcher,  had  built  near  the  bank 
of  the  river,  on  what  is  now  High  street. 

In  addition  to  the  improvements  already  mentioned,  but 
later  in  the  season,  W.  D.  Babbitt  moved  up  from  Illinois  and 
opened  a  large  stock  of  goods  for  sale  in  a  j^ortion  of  the 
Craft's  building.  Samuel  Hidden,  a  merchant  from  New- 
Hampshire,  established  a  business  on  Nicollet' avenue,  near 
First  street,  which  was  for  years  known  as  the  Boston  store. 
About  the  same  time  Warren  Sampson,  from  Michigan, 
secured  a  lot  on  Hennepin  avenue  joining  Messrs.  Davie  and 
Calitf,  and  opened  a  dry-goods  store.  In  the  meantime  Messrs. 
John  Jackins,  and  his  brother-in-law,  E.  B.  Wright,  built  on 
the  corner  of  Nicollet  avenue  and  First  street  south,  a  large 
brick  block,  the  first  brick  store  erected  in  Minneapolis,  and 
the  second  brick  building,  the  first  being  the  Bushnell  house, 
erected  by  Anson  Northnip.  Both  buildings  were  put  up 
under  the  supervision  of  D.  M.  Coolbaugh,  a  master-builder. 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  237 

Another  livery-stal)lo  was  opened  hy  Isaac  W.  De  Kay,  on 
Third  street,  and  anotlier  blacksmith  shojj  in  the  rear  of  Isaac 
I.  Lewis'  store,  by  Erastus  Jonhm.  Tliis  shop  was  built  on 
the  site  of  the  stables  and  barnyard  of  the  ferry-farm.  Here 
tlie  first  wheat,  asi(h^  from  that  on  the  government  and  Indian 
farms,  raised  in  the  county,  was  stacked  and  threshed  with  the 
old-fashioned  flail,  nnder  the  direction  of  El)en  Howe.  This 
was  before  the  days  of  threshing-machines  in  the  territory, 
and  for  that  matter,  there  was  not  wheat  enough  raised  to  pay 
for  the  importation  of  threshing-machines.  Mr.  Howe's 
winter's  work  M'as  concentrated  on  those  wheat  stacks. 

On  the  25th  of  April,  Ai-thur,  eldest  son  of  my  neighbor 
Calvin  A  Tuttle,  died  at  the  early  age  of  six  years.  He  was  a 
<;hild  of  unusual  promise. 

The  season  was  very  forward,  and  the  weather  warm  ;  on 
the  20th  the  mercury  reached  ninety-two  in  the  shade. 

Dr.  A.  E.  Ames  and  the  Minneapolis  delegation,  who  spent 
the  winter  at  the  national  capital,  in  the  interest  of  the  settlers 
on  the  reserv^ation,  returned  April  22d.  They  brought  encour- 
aging reports  in  regard  to  the  preemption  law  being  extended 
to  the  settlers  on  those  lands. 

Mr.  Godfrey  commenced  important  improvements  on  his 
mills  this  spring.  A  good  levee  was  made  at  the  junction 
of  the  Minnehaha  stream  with  the  Mississippi,  so  that 
steamers  on  their  way  from  Fort  Snelling  to  St.  Anthony 
Falls  could  land  with  the  greatest  convenience.  The  steam- 
boat men  very  properly  called  this  landing,  or  harbor,  God- 
freyport. 

On  May  1st  there  appeared  in  St.  Paul  the  first  daily  papers 
ever  printed  in  Minnesota.  They  were  twins,  but  the  product 
of  two  distinct  offices  :  the  Pioneer  by  Earl  S.  Goodrich,  and 
the  Democrat  by  David  Olmstead. 

The  opening  of  spring  gave  an  impetus  to  trade  in  St. 
Anthony  such  as  had  not  been  felt  at  any  former  period. 
The  many  large  buildings  erected  the  previous  year  were  all 
occupied,  and  new  ones  in  every  part  of  the  village  were  being 
built.  New  business  men  moved  into  the  village.  O.  AV. 
Stoughton  opened  a  new  store.  W.  F.  Cahill  and  S.  L. 
Yawter  each  had  a  large  drug  store. 

L.   C.  Walker  was  appointed  postmaster,  early  in  May,  in 


238  PERSONAL    llECOLLECTIONS 

place  of  O.  "W.  Eice,  resigned.  On  the  2d  of  May  Miss  Lydia 
Libby  died  at  the  home  of  her  father  in  St.  Anthony,  aged 
twenty  years. 

T.  M.  Griffith,  engineer  of  the  suspension  bridge,  arrived 
on  May  5th  and  immediately  assumed  the  duties  of  his  office. 
A  goodly  number  of  men  were  now  employed  on  that  struc- 
ture. The  anchorage  for  the  cables  were  of  a  superior  kind, 
and  secure  from  the  possibility  of  moving,  the  earth  being 
removed  from  the  surface  of  the  ledge,  and  excavations  made 
under  it  from  the  river  bank. 

On  the  10th  of  May  Mrs.  Stevens,  myself  and  three  little 
daughters  left  our  home  in  Minneapolis  for  an  extended  east- 
em  journey.  The  foliage  on  the  trees  was  full  grown  when 
we  left  home,  but  traveling  through  Michigan,  Ohio,  and  New 
York,  the  leaves  had  hardly  made  their  appearance,  and  while 
making  passage  down  the  St.  Lawrence  to  Montreal,  and  from 
the  latter  place  to  northern  Vermont,  the  trees  were  as  bare 
of  foliage  as  in  mid- winter.  This  satisfied  us  that  Minnesota 
was  blessed  with  earlier  vegetation  than  many  of  the  eastern 
states  that  were  south  of  us. 

The  first  dray  made  its  appearance  in  St.  Anthony  May  24. 
John  F,  Hannum  was  the-  proprietor. 

Rev.  Mr.  Ledon,  of  the  upper  town  in  St.  Anthony,  and 
other  friends  of  the  enterprise,  built  a  large  structure  for  a 
female  academy.  It  was  the  first  structure  of  the  kind  in  the 
village.  When  finished  it  was  to  be  under  the  superintendence 
of  the  Sisters." 

On  the  17th  of  June  a  party  of  government  surveyors  dis- 
covered in  the  marsh  where  the  freight-depot  of  the  Milwau- 
kee road  now  stands,  a  large  mud-turtle  with  the  figures  1769 
cut  plainly  on  its  back.  It  was  supposed  by  these  government 
employee  that  these  figures  were  the  handiwork  of  some  of 
the  early  French  voyagers  who  frequented  this  vicinity  during 
the  close  of  the  last  century. 

Citizens  of  the  Falls  were  honored,  on  the  8th  of  June,  by 
a  visit  from  ex-president  Fillmore  and  a  large  party  of  dis- 
tinguished citizens  from  different  parts  of  the  Union.  Among 
them  were  Governor  Mattison  of  Illinois,  Attorney-General 
Bates  of  Missouri,  General  John  A.  Dix  of  New  York,  Francis 
P.  Blair  of  Virginia,  George  Bancroft  the  historian,  Prof.  B. 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  239 

silliman  of  Yale,  and  a  host  of  others,  consisting  of  members 
of  foiij^rcHS,  editors,  })rofessors,  and  literary  people.  There 
were  many  noted  ladies  in  the  excursion,  with  Miss  Catherine 
M.  Sedgwick,  the  authoress,  at  the  head. 

IMPROVEMENTS  DURING  THE  SUMMER, 
I  returned  from  my  eastern  journey  July  3,  leaving  Mrs. 
Stevens  and  the  little  girls  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Stevens' 
parents  in  AVestmoreland,  New  York,  to  spend  the  summer  at 
her  early  home.  I  found  that  during  my  absence  great  im- 
provements had  been  made  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  The 
citizens  had  established  a  free  ferry  in  the  lower  town,  which 
was  a  great  convenience  to  many  of  our  citizens. 

An  anti-slavery  convention  was  held  in  the  Congregational 
church  in  St.  Anthony.  This  convention  may  be  said  to  have 
been  almost  the  birth  of  the  Re])ublican  party  in  Minnesota 

A  daily  mail  had  been  established  between  St.  Paul  and  St. 
Anthony. 

Messrs.  Rollins,  Eastman,  and  Upton,  had  broken  ground 
for  a  large  grist-mill,  to  contain  six  run  of  stone,  on  Hennepin 
Island. 

The  Free- Will  Baptist  church  of  St.  Anthony,  with  their 
pastor,  Rev,  C.  G.  Ames,  transferred  its  meetings  and  its 
organization  to  Minneapolis. 

The  Minneapolis  brick  company  had  been  very  successful 
in  making  brick. 

Tallmadge  Elwell,  the  daguerrean  of  St.  Anthony,  was 
married  Jidy  3  to  Miss  Margrette  Miller,  at  Cottage  Grove. 

Messrs.  O.  and  H.  Rogers  started  in  early  July  a  planing- 
machine,  the  first  at  the  Falls. 

W,  W,  Wales  gave  up  his  experiments  in  his  garden,  and 
succeeded  Joseph  Le  Due  in  the  bookstore. 

An  order  was  received  from  the  land  department  at  Wash- 
ington bringing  into  market  all  the  land  belonging  to  the  old 
military  reservation  of  Fort  Snelling  on  tfie  east  side  of  the 
river.  It  was  to  be  sold  to  the  highest  bidder,  at  the  land- 
office  in  Stillwater.  An  organization  of  the  settlers  on  those 
lands  was  had,  Wm,  R.  Marshall  was  appointed  their  agent 
to  bid  the  lands  in,  paying  therefor  one  dollar  and  a  quarter 
an  acre.  It  was  decided  to  surround  the  land-office  during 
the  sale  and  permit  no  one  to  bid  against  Mr.  Marshall.     The 


240 


PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 


programme,  at  the  proper  time,  when  the  sale  took  place,  was 
carried  out,  and  every  man  obtained  his  home. 

Rev.  C.  Secombe  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  July  30th.  Sermon  by  Rev.  H.  M.  Nichols  of  Still- 
water, Prayer  by  Rev.  Richard  Hall  of  Point  Douglas.  Charge 
by  the  pastor.  Rev.  J.  C.  Whitney,  of  Minneapolis.  Charge  to 
the  people  by  Rev.  Charles  Galpin  of  Excelsior. 

M.  C.  Baker  of  Minneapolis  was  appointed,  by  the  Governor 
superintendent  of  common  schools  for  Minnesota.  Mr.  Baker 
was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  had  large  interests  in 
Minneapolis  real  estate. 

On  the  26th  of  July  Mrs.  Louisa  B.  Cochrane,  recently 
from  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  died.  With  her  husband,  Mr 
Justin  Cochrane,  she  intended  to  make  Minneapolis  her  home. 
She  was  sick  only  a  few  hours. 

The  First  Baptist  church  of  Minneapolis  was  organized, 
and  Rev.  A.  A.  Russell,  of  Illinois,  was  selected  as  its  pastor. 
That  organization  held  its  meetings  in  Fletcher's  hall. 

The  Congregational  association  of  Minnesota  was  organized 
at  Excelsior  July  27th,  Rev.  Charles  Galpin,  moderator,  and 
Rev.  H.  M.  Nichols,  of  Stillwater,  scribe. 

FIRST   NEWSPAPER   PUBLISHED   IN   MINNEAPOLIS. 

On  September  2d  the  Northwestern  Democrat,  W.  A. 
Hotchkiss,  editor  and  proprietor,  was  issued  from  the  Minne- 
apolis side  of  the  river.  Mr.  Hotchkiss  purchased  the  paper 
early  in  August  from  the  proprietors,  Messrs.  Prescott  and 
Jones.  The  first  two  issues  after  the  purchase  were  from  the 
St.  Anthony  office.  September  2d,  1354,  therefore,  dates  the 
first  publication  of  a  newspaper  in  Minneapolis,  and  the  first 
paper  published  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  north  of  Iowa. 

Captain  A.  R.  Dodge,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  St.  Anthony, 
died  of  cholera,  at  Syracuse,  New  York,  on  the  24th  of 
August. 

On  the  7th  of*September  the  democrats  in  convention 
of  Hennepin  county,  made  the  following  nominations  for 
county  offices  :  H.  Townsend,  of  Richfield,  for  county  com- 
missioner ;  B.  E.  Messer,  of  Minneapolis,  sheriff  ;  Geo.  E. 
Huy,  of  Minneapolis,  register  of  deeds  ;  Charles  Hoag,  treas- 
urer ;  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  judge  of  probate  ;  Titus,  Pettijohn, 
coroner  ;  Ebenezer  Wardswell,  surveyor  ;  Messrs.  Scofield  of 


OF  MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   I'EOPLE.  241 

Bloomington,  Charles  Miles  of  Elm  Creek,  and  "William  Dickie 
of  Minneapolis,  assessors. 

Ou  the  14tli  of  September  a  meeting  was  held  in  Fletcher's 
hall  to  take  into  consideration  the  propriety  of  organizing  a 
cemetery  association.  It  was  attended  l)y  nearly  every  citizen 
in  the  village.  It  was  decided  to  i)urchase  forty  acres  of  the 
claim  of  Mr.  J.  S.  Johnson,  on  the  bluif  directly  back  of 
Johnson's  lake,  for  a  cemetery.  Messrs.  Isaac  Atwater, 
Edward  Murphy,  Kev.  J.  C.  AAliitney,  Geo.  E.  Huy,  and  B.  E. 
Messer,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  negotiate  with  Mr. 
Johnson  for  the  land.  Several  subsequent  meetings  were 
held  ;  but  the  committee  failed  in  the  negotiation  with  Mr. 
Johnson.  Heretofore  the  only  place  used  for  the  burial  of 
the  dead,  on  this  side  of  the  river,  was  on  the  hill  in  the  grove 
immediately  in  the  rear  of  Hoag's  lake.  The  land  being 
claimed,  the  owner  objected  to  it  being  used  for  a  cemetery. 
In  the  meantime  Martin  Layman  set  apart  a  portion  of  his 
land  for  a  cemetery,  which  seemed  to  give  general  satisfaction 
to  the  citizens,  and  no  further  efforts  were  made  for  the  selec- 
tion of  a  cemetery  by  the  early  settlers  of  Minneapolis.  In 
later  years  the  beautiful  grounds  of  the  Lakewood  cemetery 
were  selected. 

At  a  convention  of  the  whigs  of  Hennepin  county,  held 
September  16th,  the  following  nominations  were  made  for 
county  officers  :  Joseph  H.  Canney,  for  commissioner  ;  A.  N. 
Hoyt,  for  sheriff  ;  Isaac  I.  Lewis,  for  register  of  deeds  ;  Isaac 
Atwater,  for  district-attorney  ;  Isaac  BrowTi,  for  judge  of 
probate  ;  C.  W.  Christmas,  for  surveyor  ;  H.  S.  Atwood,  for 
coroner  ;  Messrs.  John  Cathcart,  John  P.  Plummer,  and  Wm. 
G.  Murphy,  for  assessors.  Messrs.  John  H.  Stevens,  Edward 
Murphy,  H.  S.  Plummer,  J.  H.  Canney,  and  A.  N.  Hoyt,  were 
appointed  the  central  whig  committee  for  the  ensuing  year. 

At  a  district  convention  of  the  democracy  held  in  Shakopee 
Hon.  H.  H.  Sibley  and  D.  M.  Hanson  were  nominated  for  the 
house  of  representatives  ;  and  the  following  day  the  whigs 
held  a  convention  at  the  same  place,  and  nominated  Joel  B. 
Bassett  and  Wni.  H.  Nobles  candidates  for  the  house. 

The  Minnesota  Eepublican,  Kev.  C.  G.  Ames,  editor,  an 
eight-column  newspaper,  made  its  appearance  October  1st  in 
St.  Anthony. 


242  PEKSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

At  the  annual  election.  October  19tli  most  of  the  candidates 
on  the  democratic  ticket  were  elected. 

FIRST  AGRICULTURAL  AND   HORTICULTJIRAL  FAIR  IN  MINNESOTA. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Hennepin  county  agricultural 
society  was  held  October  6.  John  H.  Stevens  was  elected 
president  for  one  year  ;  Col.  E.  Case,  treasurer  ;  Joseph  H. 
Canney,  secretary.  It  was  voted  to  hold  the  first  annual  fair 
on  the  20th  of  October,  in  Minneapolis.  It  came  off  at  the 
appointed  time,  and  it  was  the  first  fair  of  an  agricultural  and 
horticultural  character  that  was  ever  held  in  Minnesota.  It 
was  a  success  in  every  department.  Speeches  were  made  on 
the  occasion,  by  Governor  Gorman,  ex-governor  Kamsey,  and 
Judge  B.  B.  Meeker.  Among  the  exhibitors  were  Sylvanus 
Jenkins,  Henry  C.  Keith,  Allen  Harmon,  W.  G.  Murphy, 
Charles  Hoag,  David  Bickford,  Arba  Cleveland,  Peter  Poncin, 
John  Wass,  Titus  Pettijohn,  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  D.  M.  Coolbaugh, 
John  Jackins,  S.  Bigelow,  J.  H.  Stevens,  William  Hanson, 
Alex.  Farribault,  J.  W.  Cormack,  Isaac  Wales,  Norman  Jen- 
kins, W.  D.  Babbitt,  James  F.  Bradley,  B.  E.  Messer,  Edward 
Murphy,  John  Chambers,  Anson  Northrup,  Captain  John 
Tapper,  J.  W.  Dow,  Clark  Varner,  W.  H.  Lauderdale,  Mrs. 
J.  H.  Canney,  Mrs.  Sweet  AV.  Case.  Mrs.  Charles  Hoag,  Mrs. 
D.  Bickford,  Mrs.  D.  Elliott,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Hotchkiss,  Mrs.  S. 
Hidden,  Mrs.  J.  Boorbar,  Mrs.  S.  Bigelow,  and  Mrs.  Pauline 
Clarke  ;  Amasa  Crafts,  Davie  &  Calef,  Geo.  A.  Brown,  E. 
Jordan,  T._  Elwell,  L.  A.  Smith,  John  M.  Anderson,  and 
Prescott,  Pettijohn  &  Moffett.  The  grain,  roots,  vegetables, 
stock,  swine,  poultry,  dairy  exhibits,  the  mechanical  and 
domestic  department,  fine  arts,  ladies'  department  and  mis- 
cellaneous articles  exhibited,  were  all  of  such  excellence  they 
would  have  done  credit  to  one  of  the  oldest  and  richest  agri- 
cultural counties  in  New  York.  The  premium  list  amounted 
to  several  hundred  dollars,  and  they  were  all  paid.  Fortu- 
nately there  were  several  strangers  present  representing 
several  of  the  eastern,  middle,  and  western  states,  and  the 
extraordinary  character  of  the  grain,  vegetables  and  stock  on 
exhibition  impressed  them  so  favorably  with  the  farm  pro- 
ducts of  Minnesota  that  most  of  them  became,  in  after  years, 
permanent  residents  in  Minnesota. 

A  sad  and  fatal  accident  occurred  near  the  Lake  of  the 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  IT.S  PEOPLE.  243 

Woodt  on  the  30tli  of  October.  Viennas,  a  lad  of  some  sixteen 
years  of  a^e,  a  son  of  M.  C.  Gregory,  was  killed  by  the  acci- 
dental discharge  of  a  gun  he  was  handling.  This  was  the 
first  death  in  Kichfield  township. 

A  lyceum  was  organized  in  Minneajjolis  on  the  7th  of 
November.  The  officers  elected  were  John  H.  Stevens,  pres- 
ident ;  Geo.  W.  Bertram  and  J.  F.  Bradley,  vice-presidents  ; 
S.  Bigelow,  secretary  and  treasurer  ;  M.  C.  Baker,  Beuben 
Kobinson  and  AV.  D.  Babbitt,  executive  committee.  The  first 
discussion  was  on  the  question,  "Is  the  moral  condition  of  the 
world  improving  ?"  T.  C.  Jones  and  W.  1).  Babbitt  in  the 
affirmative,  J.  Brown  and  J.  F,  Bradley  in  the  negative. 
This  was  the  first  association  of  a  literary  character  ever 
organized  in  Minneapolis, 

Winter  set  in  early  this  year.  On  the  18th  of  November 
sufficient  snow  fell  to  make  good  sleighing. 

On  the  11th  of  November  William  Hanson's  dwelling  in 
the  lower  town  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Loss  two  thousand 
dollars  and  no  insurance.  This  was  the  first  dwelling  and  the 
second  building  destroyed  by  fire  in  Minneapolis, 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  the  Minneapolis 
school  district  No.  1  was  held  on  the  11th  of  November. 
Messrs.  William  Hanson,  J.  N.  Barber  and  J.  H.  Stevens 
were  elected  trustees  for  the  year,  Allen  Harmon  was  re- 
elected clerk.  The  services  of  Charles  Hoag  were  secured  for 
teacher  during  the  winter  term 

There  were  polled  three  hundred  and  one  votes  in  Henne- 
pin county  at  the  annual  fall  election  of  1854,  of  which  Min- 
neapolis had  one  hundred  and  thirty-two,  Bloomington 
eighteen,  Minnetonka  twenty-one,  Brooklyn  forty,  Chanhas- 
sen  forty-two,  and  Kichfield  forty-eight,  Messrs,  John  N, 
Barber  and  Simeon  K,  Odell  were  elected  justices  of  the 
peace  in  Minneapolis,  James  Sliaver,  jr.,  justice  in  the  Min- 
netonka precinct,  J,  B.  Holt  in  the  Brooklyn  precinct,  and  J, 
A,  Dunsinore  and  R.  L.  ]3artliolomew  in  the  Riclifield  district. 

The  Garland,  an  adjunct  of  tlie  lyceum,  a  literary  paper  of 
rare  merit,  matle  its  appearance  in  December,  Several 
monthly  numbers  ap2)eared  during  the  winter.  It  was  under 
the  management  of  Mrs.  S.  Bigelow,  Miss  Mary  E.  Miller, 
Mrs,  Mary  Messer,  and   Miss  Boyington.     There  were  more 


244  PEESONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

pupils  in  attendance  at  tlie  district  school  than  the  rooms 
could  contain,  and  it  was  decided  that  a  select  school  should 
be  opened  in  Fletcher's  hall,  with  Miss  Martha  Boying-ton  'bs 
teacher.  By  the  15th  of  December  there  were  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  pupils  in  attendance  at  the  schools. 

W.  D.  Morris,  who  lived  on  his  claim  at  Lake  Harriet, 
succeeded,  during  the  prior  year,  in  maturing  a  few  acres  of 
broom-corn  on  his  farm.  He  converted  it  into  domestic  utility 
by  manufacturing  several  hundred  dozens  of  brooms,  and  good 
ones  they  were.  This  was  the  first  broom-corn  raised  in 
Minnesota,  as  well  as  the  first  manufactory  of  brooms  in  the 
territory. 

There  were  filed  in  the  Minneapolis  land-office  during 
October,  November  and  December,  four  hundred  declaratory 
statements,  which  meant  that  number  of  farmers,  and  all  in 
Hennepin  county. 

Dr.  A.  E.  Ames  left  for  Washington  on  December  20th,  to 
spend  the  winter  in  that  city,  in  the  interest  of  the  settlers  on 
the  reservation.  Franklin  Steele  of  Fort  Snelling,  and  Henry 
T.  Welles  also  spent  the  winter  at  the  national  capital  for  the 
same  purpose. 

Several  school-districts  were  organized  in  the  county  this 
year,  as  follows  :  one  in  Eichfield  in  December,  and  a  school 
taught  by  Miss  Mary  Townsend  ;  General  B.  L.  Bartoholmew, 
C.  Gregory,  Geo.  Gilmore,  C.  Conillard,  and  William  Finch, 
built  the  school-house.  This  was  the  first  school  taught  in 
Eichfield.  Another  district  was  organized  near  the  Bichfield 
mills  early  in  1855,  and  a  second  school  opened  under  the 
auspices  of  Miss  Clarke  as  teacher.  A  school-district  was 
organized  in  Eden  Prairie  during  the  early  part  of  the  year  ; 
a  very  good  school-house  was  built,  and  a  school  opened  in 
May,  taught  by  Miss  Sarah  Clarke.  A  school-district  was 
also  organized  in  Minnetonka  this  year,  and  a  school-house 
built  and  a  school  opened  with  Miss  Mary  Carman  as  teacher. 
Another  school-district  was  organized  in  Excelsior  this  year, 
a  log  school-house  built ;  a  summer  school  was  taught  in  it 
by  Mrs.  Jane  Wolcott.  Brooklyn  also  organized  two  school- 
districts  this  year  ;  in  one  a  school  was  taught  during  the 
summer  by  Miss  Augusta  McLaughlin  ;  the  house  was  built 
on  what  was  known  as  long  prairie  ;  the  center  of  the  other 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  245 

was  on  Getchell  prairie  ;  the  teacher  was  Miss  Mary  HufF. 
These  schools  at  that  time  were  all  in  a  flourishing  condition. 
They  were  a  greater  recommendation  to  the  country  than  any- 
thing that  could  be  said  about  it.  "Where  there  are  good 
schools  there  are  always  good  people  and,  consequently,  good 
society  and  a  prosperous  community. 

BOATS  ON  THE  UPPER  MISSISSIPPI. 
The  trade  on  the  upper  Mississippi  had  attained  such  a 
magnitude,  during  the  season  of  navigation  this  year  that  it 
became  evident  the  steamer  Governor  Ramsey  would  not  be 
of  sufficient  CH})acity  for  the  transportation  of  more  than  half 
the  freight  another  year  from  St.  Anthony  to  Sauk  Eapids 
It  was  true  St.  Cloud  had  not  yet  been  brought  into  existence, 
but  John  L.  "Wilson  and  Geo.  F.  Brott  had  each  an  eye  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  river  from  Sauk  Kapids,  and  Anoka  had 
become  the  center  of  considerable  commercial  importance, 
while  Itaska,  Elk  River,  Monticello,  and  Clearwater,  were 
rapidly  becoming  villages  of  some  importance,  and  the  country 
around  them  was  rapidly  filling  up  with  immigrants.  As  a 
consecpience  the  carrying-trade  had  doubled.  At  a  meeting 
held  in  St.  Anthony,  Major  A.  M.  Fridley,  R.  Cutler,  and  S. 
M.  Tracy,  of  St.  Anthony,  A.  P.  Lane  of  Anoka,  and  Geo.  W. 
Sweet  of  Sauk  Rapids,  were  ai)pointed  a  committee  to  arrange 
for  adding  another  boat  to  the  trade.  The  movement  was 
entirely  successful.  Not  only  one  boat,  but  two  oi'  three  were, 
in  after  years  engaged  in  the  passenger  and  freight  trade 
above  St.  Anthony.  One  of  the  boats,  the  Henry  M.  Rice, 
was  a  craft  that  would  have  been  a  credit  to  the  boats  on  the 
lower  Mississippi. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

REPRESENTATIVE  MEN  OF  THE  EARLY  SETTLERS, 

Hennepin  county,  as  well  as  Minneapolis,  was  greatly 
benefitted  during  the  year  by  the  superior  class  of  immigrants. 
Among  those  who  selected  Minneapolis  for  their  home,  was 
Francis  R.  E.  Cornell  who,  in  after  years,  became  a  member 
of  the  legislature  for  several  terms,  was  also  attorney-general 
of  the  state  for  many  years,  and  was  elevated  to  a  seat  on  the 
supreme  bench,  which  high  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  Immediately  on  his  arrival  in  Minneapolis  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  D.  M.  Hanson,  and  at  once  entered  into  a 
large  practice.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Hanson  he  associated 
with  him  Judge  C.  E.  Vanderburgh,  now  of  the  supreme 
court,  but  then  a  young  lawyer  from  the  interior  of  New  York. 
At  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  Minneapolis  he  was  only  thirty- 
four  years  of  age,  but  he  had  previously  been  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  New  York  senate  from  Steuben  county,  and  had 
also  held  other  high  offices  in  that  state.  From  the  time  of 
his  arrival  here  to  his  death  he  lent  a  helping  hand  in  every 
possible  way  that  could  benefit  the  place.  He  was  much  inter- 
ested in  the  schools  of  Minneapolis,  and  consented  at  an  early 
day  to  serve  as  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  district-school. 
When  the  city  required  his  wise  counsels  in  her  municipal 
afPairs,  he  willingly  served,  greatly  to  his  inconvenience,  as  an 
alderman.  Thoroughly  unselfish,  he  delighted  in  bestowing 
aid  upon  those  who  required  it.  An  accomplished  orator,  an 
impartial  and  able  judge,  a  warm  friend,  his  death  was  much 
regretted  by  the  whole  community.     Judge  Cornell  left  an 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  247 

interesting  family  consisting  of  his  widow,  a  son  and  daugh- 
ter, who  are  residents  of  Minneapolis. 

George  W.  Chowen  came  to  Minneapolis  in  1851,  Init 
resided  mostly  in  other  i)ortions  of  the  territory  until  1854 
Though  but  ])artially  connected  with  Minneaj)olis  since 
1852,  and  may  be  considered  a  citizen  of  the  city  from  that 
date.  On  the  organization  of  the  county  he  was  selected  as 
deputy  register  of  deeds,  and  deputy  clerk  of  the  board  of 
county  commissioners,  and  as  such  recorded  the  first  deed 
and  the  first  instrument  in  writing  that  was  necessary  to  be 
recorded  in  Hennepin  county.  Mr,  Chowen  was  one  of  the 
most  useful  men  that  ever  honored  the  city  with  a  residence. 
For  many  ycfu-s  he  was  the  register  of  deeds  of  the  county. 
For  some  years  previous  to  his  death  he  was  the  head  of  an 
abstract  office,  which  he  had  established  at  great  expense* 
He  was  greatly  esteemed  by  all  classes  of  citizens,  and  his 
memory  is  greatly  revered.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  city. 

Isaac  Brooks  Edwards,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  but  long 
a  merchant  of  Gosport,  Indiana,  came  to  Minneapolis  in  1854, 
purchased  a  lot  on  Nicollet  avenue,  built  a  house  on  it,  and 
moved  into  it  this  year.  He  became  a  partner  of  Isaac  I. 
Lewis  in  the  store.  After  a  residence  of  several  years  in 
Minneapolis,  Mr.  Edwards  moved  to  AVatertown,  in  Carver 
county,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  original  founders,  and 
died  there  several  years  since.  Mr.  Edwards  contributed 
in  many  ways  to  help  Minneapolis  in  an  early  day. 

Subscription  papers  were  frequently  passed  around  solicit- 
ing support  for  ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  to  aid  in  building 
school-houses,  churches,  town-halls,  bridges,  and  laying  out 
roads  and  streets,  as  well  as  for  the  support  of  teachers. 
Mr.  Edwards  always  responded  liberally  on  these  occasions. 
He  had  a  large  family,  some  of  the  members  of  Avhich  are ' 
citizens  of  this  state. 

Thomas  H.  Perkins  came  from  Orleans  county.  New  York, 
during  the  year,  and  purchased  real  estate  near  Murphy's 
ferry.  He  still  resides  in  the  county.  Mr.  Perkins  invested 
considerable  money  soon  after  his  arrival  in  the  milling 
industry,  and  aided  greatly  in  developing  that  industry  in  this 
neighborhood.     He  has  two  sons,  E.  E.  Perkins,  a  physician 


248  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

at  Excelsior,  and  Frank  Perkins,  who  is  also  a  physician. 

S.  Bigelow  came  from  Ohio  and  secured  a  lot  and  built  on 
it,  now  occupied  by  Temple  Court  block.  He  also  made  a 
claim  on  Crow  river.  Mr.  Bigelow  was  a  prominent  citizen 
in  Minneapolis  for  several  years.     He  returned  to  Ohio. 

Many  valuable  mechanics  made  their  homes  in  the  village 
this  year,  such  as  Eeuben  Robinson,  John  H.  Atty,  Josiah 
Orthoudt,  and  Wm.  H.  Varner,  who  became  prominent 
citizens.  C.  C.  Berkman  erected  a  building,  and  established 
a  first-class  bakery,  during  the  summer,  adjoining  Mr.  Lewis' 
store.  This  was  the  first  bakery  in  Minneapolis.  Dr.  Berk- 
man  resided  here  many  years,  and  then  moved  to  St.  Paul. 
He  still  resides  in  that  city. 

W.  H.  Lauderdale  came  from  Ohio  and  took  a  claim  near 
Lake  Calhoun,  on  which  he  resided  for  several  years.  He 
was  the  first  to  introduce  fancy  poultry  into  the  county.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  city  for  many  years.  His  father- 
in-law,  John  Sloane,  accompanied  him  to  this  territory.  Mr. 
Sloane  assisted  C.  W.  Christmas  in  making  the  first  survey 
of  town  lots  in  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Sloane's  father  was  for  a 
long  term  of  years  a  member  of  congress  from  Ohio.  He  was 
also  treasurer  of  the  United  States  during  several  administra- 
tions. 

J.  B.  Mills,  a  brother  of  E.  P.  Mills  of  St.  Anthony,  became 
a  citizen  of  Hennepin  county,  late  in  the  fall,  and  opened  a 
large  store  in  the  postofiice  building.  Mr.  Mills  resided  here 
for  several  years.  He  went  to  McLeOd  county  and  preempted 
a  farm.     Afterwards  he  became  a  government  contractor. 

Dr.  J.  S.  Elliott  came  from  Maine  and  settled  in  Minneajj- 
olis  in  1854  He  was  accompanied  by  his  family.  Dr.  Elliott 
became  interested  in  the  water-power  company  and  made,  for 
those  early  days,  heavy  investments  in  the  improvements  at 
the  Falls.  AVyman  Elliott,  his  eldest  son,  became  a  resident 
of  the  village  at  the  same  time,  though  for  a  year  or  two  he 
lived  on  a  claim  in  Wright  county.  Dr.  A.  F.  Elliott,  J.  R. 
Elliott,  and  Frank  Elliott,  also  sons  of  Dr.  Elliott,  became 
residents  of  the  village  in  1854,  as  did  a  nephew,  Dan.  Elliott. 
Members  of  the  Elliott  family  have  all  become  prominent  in 
the  busin(!KK  and  socinl  circles  of  Minneapolis. 

W.  Augustus  Hotchkiss  came  to  Minneapolis  in  August  of 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    TEOPLE.  240 

this  yenr.  Ho  iminedintely  ijurcliased  the  NorthwestGuni 
Democrat,  a  St.  Anthony  ])hint,  and  moved  it  on  this  side  of 
the  river,  and  continued  its  i)nblication  for  several  years. 
Mr.  Hotchkiss  was  one  of  our  best  citizens  ;  perhaps  no  one 
contribTited  more  to  the  early  development  of  the  resources 
of  Minneapolis  and  Henne2)in  county.  He  was  an  earnest 
worker,  a  conscientious  man,  a  Christian  j^entleman,  and  a 
firm  believer  in  the  future  ^i-eatness  of  tlie  endjryo  city.  He 
was  also  a  firm  believer  in  Democracy  ;  his  paper  was  i>artisan, 
but  more  devoted  to  local  matters,  and  to  building  up  the  new 
village  and  county,  than  to  politics.  When  the  attempt  was 
made  to  dissolve  the  I  aiion,  he  entered  the  service  and  com- 
manded Hotchkiss'  battery  during  the  war,  which  ^ecame 
noted  throughout  the  United  States  for  its  efficiency.  Major 
Hotchkiss  was  jx^culiarly  adapted  to  the  artillery  service,  for 
he  had  in  early  life  served  an  apprenticeship  to  that  mode  of 
warfare.  The  citizens  of  Minnea})olis  will,  for  all  time  to 
come,  owe  much  to  Major  Hotchkiss  for  his  great  efPorts  in 
attracting  immigration  and  capital  here  in  the  early  days  of 
the  Adllage.  He  is  still  engaged  in  the  newsj^per  business, 
editing  and  publishing  the  National  Republican  at  Preston, 
in  this  state.  His  family  resides  in  this  city,  which  is  his 
home  proper. 

CLERGYMEN  OF  THE  EARLY  DAYS. 

Rev.  Charles  Gordon  Ames  became  a  resident  of  Minne- 
apolis this  year.  He  secured  a  lot  on  Fourth  street,  and  built 
a  house.  Mr.  Ames  was  the  second  pastor  of  a  church  organ- 
ization in  Minneapolis,  that  of  the  Free-Will  Baptist.  A 
young  man  of  great  perseverance,  well  educated,  a  natural 
orator,  an  abolitionist,  a  i)roliibitionist,  he  made  it  interesting 
to  the  people  in  this  neighborhood,  and  undoubtedly  accom- 
plished a  good  work  among  the  pioneei's.  Thoroughly  honest, 
he  had  the  confidence  of  the  whole  community,  whether  or 
not  it  believed  in  his  peculiar  doctrines.  Mr.  Ames  became 
an  editor,  and  was  elected  register  of  deeds.  He  afterwards 
went  to  California.  From  the  golden  state  he  was  called  to 
Philadelphia,  and  is  now  pastor  of  one  of  the  most  flourishing 
Unitarian  churches  on  the  continent.  ^Vhen  he  had  attained 
the  years  of  maturity  he  became  satisfied  that  the  orthodox 
teachings  of  his  early  years  contained  many  errors,  tind  under 


250  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

this  conviction  he  united  with  the  Unitarian  church,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  most  poj^ular  pulpit  orators  of  the  day. 

Rev.  A.  A.  Russell,  upon  the  organization  of  the  Baptist 
church  in  Minneapolis  this  year,  was  selected  as  its  pastor. 
He  arrived  from  Illinois  in  the  early  summer,  and  immedi- 
ately assumed  the  duties  of  his  sacred  calling.  This  was  the 
third  church  organization,  and  Mr.  Russell  was  the  third 
pastor  of  a  church  in  Minneapolis.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
worth,  and  his  good  works  are  visible  in  this  city  to  this  day. 
He  ministered  here  for  some  five  years.  He  was  popular 
with  all  denominations. 

Carlos  Wilcox,  a  native  of  Vermont,  selected  his  home  in 
Minneapolis  this  year.  He  entered  at  once  into  active  busi- 
ness life.  In  less  than  a  year  after  his  arrival  here,  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  in  the  place  of  Dr.  H.  Fletcher.  Mr. 
Wilcox  was  the  second  postmaster  in  Minneapolis.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Burgess,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  F.  R.  E.  Cornell.  He  is 
still  a  resident  of  the  city. 

John  M.  Anderson,  so  long  a  citizen  of  Minneapolis,  dates 
his  residence  from  this  year.  In  addition  to  being  the  first 
book-merchant  in  the  city,  he  was  also  the  first  to  engage  in 
the  book-bindery  business  in  Minneapolis. 

The  first  building  to  be  used  exclusively  for  a  meeting- 
house.in  Minneapolis  was  commenced  and  finished  this  year. 
This  church  was  built  on  the  corner  of  Cataract  street  and 
Fourth  street  south.  It  was  owned 'by  the  Presbyterians. 
While  it  was  not  a  very  large  church  edifice,  it  was  a  conven- 
ient one,  and  we  were  all  proud  of  it.  Mr.  Whitney  filled  the 
pulpit  in  this  church  for  many  years. 

The  different  precincts  outside  of  Minneapolis  were  greatly 
prospered  during  the  season  of  1854.  The  crops  were  good, 
and  much  of  the  vacant  land  in  the  coftnty  was  occupied  by 
actual  settlers  from  different  parts  of  the  world.  Among  the 
new  immigrants  this  year  was  John  S.  Harrington,  who  took 
a  claim  just  above  Wayzata,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Minnetonka, 
where  he  now  resid(>s.  Mr.  Harrington  has  been  a  valuable 
citizen  in  many  ways,  but  particularly  in  developing  the  hor- 
ticultural products  of  Minnesota.  General  R.  S.  ^Bartholomew, 
of  the  Western  Reserve,  Ohio,  made  and  occupied  a  claim  on 
the  banks*  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods.     General  Bartholomew 


OF    MINN'KSOTA    AND    ITS    I'KOPI.E.  251 

has  always  been  a  jmblic-si)irited  citizen.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  constitutional  convention  of  Minnesota,  and  also  repre- 
sented Hennepin  county  in  the  state  senate.  He  lives  on  the 
land  he  preempted  so  long  ago. 

Cornelius  Couillard  also  selected  and  moved  on  his  claim 
this  year,  near  General  Bartholomew's,  in  Richfield,  and  like 
his  neighbor,  is  a  valuable  citizen. 

James  Hawkes  was  another  excellent  citizen  who  settled  in 
Richfield  in  1(S54.  He  was  killed  by  being  thrown  from  his 
wagon  in  Minneapolis  in  the  fall  of  1880.  He  served  through 
the  war  in  the  First  Minnesota  infantry,  and  First  mounted 
Battalion. 

Bloomington  was  favored  with  many  additions  to  her  popu- 
lation. Messrs.  T.  T.  Bazley  had  selected  a  claim  the  previous 
year,  as  had  Thomas  Oxborough.  Both  of  these  men  made 
valuable  farms,  and  assisted  greatly  in  develoj)ing  the  agri- 
cultural industries  of  this  state.  Mr.  Oxborough  had  brothers 
who  settled  near  him  who  were  good  farmers  and  excellent 
citizens. 

Among  others  who  oi)ened  farms  on  Eden  prairie  this  year 
was  Robert  Anderson.  He  followed  his  brother  James,  who 
had  made  a  claim  at  that  place  the  previous  year,  as  had  Wm. 
V.  Bryant.  Jonas  Staring  purchased  a  claim  and  moved  on 
it  this  year.  Joseph  H.  Chowen  dates  his  residence  at  Min- 
netonka  from  this  year.  His  brother,  Hon.  "\Vm.  S.  Chowen, 
who  has  been  of  so  much  moment  to  the  public,  had  taken  a 
claim  the  previous  year,  and  opened  the  way  for  several  of 
his  old  neighbors  in  Pennsylvania  to  follow  him.  Both  of 
these  gentlemen  were  brothers  of  Geo.  W.  Chowen,  the  pio- 
neer of  the  Wyoming,  Pennsylvania,  colony,  in  Minnesota. 
Mr.  W.  S.  Chowen  has  represented  Hennepin  county  in  the 
state  house  of  representatives  ;  occupied  for  years  the  master- 
ship of  the  state  grange,  and  has  been  one  of  the  commission- 
ers of  Hennepin  county  se\"eral  terms.  W.  S.  and  J.  H. 
Chowen  are  progressive  farmers.  Their  sister,  Mrs.  James 
Shaver,  jr.,  was  the  first  white  woman  who  resided  at  Minne- 
tonka,  having  made  her  home  there  with  her  husband  in  the 
fall  of  1852.  Another  sister  is  the  wife  of  A.  N.  Gray,  also  a 
pioneer,  and  the  millwright  of  the  old  Minnetonka  mill  com- 
pany.    Mrs.  Shaver  was  the  mother  of  the  first  two  children 


252  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

born  on  the  borders  of  Minnetonka — twins — Bayard  T.  and 
Bernard  G.  Shaver,  born  August  12, 1852.  These  young  men 
have  reached  a  vigorous  manhood,  and  are  prominent  citizens. 
It  could  hardly  be  otherwise  when  we  consider  the  good 
mother  they  were  blessed  with. 

The  vacant  land  around  the  lake  was  mostly  occupied  by 
actual  residents  this  year.  Aside  from  those  who  settled  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Excelsior,  such  men  as  A.  P.  Beeman,  J.  H. 
Clark,  and  others,  we  find  that  Wm.  H.  Ferguson,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  occupied  the  long  point  of  land  extending  into  the 
lake  on  the  south  shore  below  Excelsior.  Mr.  Ferguson  was 
a  man  of  much  more  than  ordinary  ability.  He  was  drowned 
in  the  lake  late  in  the  fall  of  1857. 

"William  Harvey,  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  made  a  claim  in 
the  fractional  township  of  Excelsior  this  year.  L.  P.  Samp- 
son also  settled  in  Excelsior  this  year.  Mr.  Sampson  was  for 
many  years  the  postmaster  in  that  village.  Silas  A.  Seamans 
took  uj)  a  vacant  quarter-section  of  excellent  land  a  little  west 
of  Excelsior,  this  summer,  and  soon  had,  not  only  an  excellent 
home,  but  a  good  farm.  Z.  D.  Spaulding  also  settled  on  a 
farm  this  year  near  Excelsior  and,  like  his  neighbors  of  that 
period,  endured  many  hardships. 

Minnetrista  had,  previous  to  this  year,  only  two  settlers,, 
the  Merz  brothers.  During  the  season  Messrs.  M.  S.  Cook, 
N.  H.  Sanders,  and  J.  W.  Buck,  made  claims  and  occupied 
them.  John  Carman  made  a  claim  on  w^hat  is  known  as 
Carman's  Point.  He  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Cook,  and  of 
Miss  Mary,  the  first  school-teacher  at  Minnetonka.  His  son 
Frank  is  still  a  resident  of  Minnetrista.  Cook's  bay,  on  the 
upper  lake,  took  its  name  from  M.  S.  Cook.  Independence 
for  the  first  time  was  settled  late  this  year  by  Job  Molfett, 
closely  followed  by  Messrs.  E.  Hoisington,  John  B.  Perkins, 
Irvin  Shrewsbury,  and  John  H.  McGary.  The  first  settlers  of 
this  town  were  men  of  a  good  deal  of  enterprise.  Medina, 
too,  for  the  first  time  received  settlers,  Messrs.  Stephen  Bean 
from  Maine,  and  A.  F.  French  of  Ohio,  making-  claims.  Two 
brothers  from  Germany,  by  the  name  of  Kassula,  also  opened 
farms,  this  year,  in  this  township  ;  and  most  of  the  vacant  land 
in  Brooklyn  was  taken  this  year.  Among  those  who  settled 
in  the  town  in  1854,  were  Otis  H.  Brown,  N.  Crooker,  C.  H. 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  253 

Ward,  and  John  P.  Pluiuiuer.  Osseo  village  was  occupied 
this  year  by  Warren  Sampson,  Isaac  Ijabosiiiiere,  Clark  Ells- 
worth, 8.  Brown,  and  1).  1>.  Thayer,  though  the  inunediate 
country  had  been  settled  before,  by  Messrs.  Bottineau,  Potvin, 
Raiche,  and  (Jarvais. 

Chaniplin  this  year  added  many  settlers  to  her  population  ; 
the  most  prominent  of  whom  were  Rev.  W.  Hayden,  Samuel 
Oolburn,  and  John  G.  Howell.  Dayton  was  honored  in  1854 
with  an  unusually  enteri)rising  immigration,  consisting  of 
such  men  as  E.  H.  Robinson,  John  Baxter,  James  Haselton, 
and  George  Mosier.  In  the  neighboring  town  of  Hassan 
Patrick  A.  Rj'an,  Alexander  Borthwick,  Harvey  Hicks,  Dennis 
Ford,  Alpheus  Maserey,  and  Joseph  Green,  made  claims  ; 
which  was  a  very  good  commencement  when  we  consider 
that  thore  were  no  roads  to  reach  the  to\\ni,  and  that  it  was  in 
the  heart  of  the  big  woods. 

The  first  settlement  was  also  made  in  Greenwood  township 
this  year,  by  Mathias  Harff.  The  only  way  Mr.  Harff  had  to 
reach  his  claim  was  by  an  Indian  trail.  He  found  it  more 
desirable  and  cheaper  to  transport  his  supplies  by  the  river 
in  a  batteau  ;  that  is  to  say,  by  following  up  the  Mississippi 
to  Crow  river,  thence  up  that  river  to  his  claim,  which  was 
on  its  banks.  Louis  P.  Garvais  and  Wm.  M.  Ewing  were  the 
sole  occupants  of  Maple  Grove  up  to  this  year,  when  they 
were  joined  by  Harvey  Abel,  A.  O.  Angell,  Wm.  E.  Evans, 
Patrick  Devery,  and  O.  R.  Champlin.  Mr.  Evans  was  from 
Vermont,  and  was  in  search  of  a  country  where  he  could  j^lant 
a  colony  from  his  native  state.  He  thoroughly  explored  the 
then  wild  west,  and  wisely  selected  the  beautiful,  fertile 
wilderness  in  Maple  Grove,  where  he,  and  those  who  came 
after  him,  have  made  the  place  blossom  like  the  rose.  Mr. 
Evans  has  been  frequently  called  upon  by  the  citizens  of 
Hennepin  county  to  occupy  various  offices  in  their  gift. 
David  Marchant,  a  carpenter,  had  previously  oj)ened  a  faJm 
in  this  township,  which  was  probabl}'  as  much  his  home  as 
any  place,  as  he  was  a  single  man,  and  had  only  a  temporary 
residence  elsewhere,  while  working  at  his  trade. 

Plymouth  township  this  year  made  rapid  progress  in  the 
receptiod  of  settlers.  Francois  Huot,  G.  D.  Brawley,  David 
Gorham,   James   Hughes,  Edward  Burke,  Jonas  H.  Howe, 


254  PEESONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

C.  W.  Farington,  and  several  others,  including  the  three 
brothers,  the  Parkers.  A  more  enterprising  and  better  class 
of  citizens  could  not  be  added  to  any  new  county  than  that  of 
the  immigration  to  Plymouth  in  1884  ;  but  the  same  may  be 
said  in  relation  to  the  immigration  of  the  whole  county. 
Many  of  them  had  large  families,  such  as  Mr.  Hughes  of 
Plymouth,  and  John  P.  Plummer  of  Brooklyn.  The  last- 
named  gentleman  was  frequently  honored  by  the  citizens  of 
Hennei^in  county  with  high  offices,  which  he  filled  with  great 
fidelity  to  the  interests  of  the  people.  He  was  the  father  of 
several  boys,  four  of  which  he  sent  to  the  Union  army,  some 
of  whom  attained  high  rank. 

NAVIGATION  OF   THE   MISSISSIPPI   TO   ST.    ANTHONY   FALLS. 

The  citizens  of  St.  Anthony  and  Minneapolis  determined 
to  secure  one  or  more  boats  to  run  from  the  lower  ports  to 
the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony.  At  a  meeting  at  the  St.  Charles, 
with  John  W.  North  in  the  chair,  and  Edward  Murphy  sec- 
retary, the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars  was  subscribed  by 
the  citizens  of  the  two  towns.  The  capital  stock  of  the  St. 
Anthony  steamboat  company  was  placed  at  thirty  thousand 
dollars.  The  money  in  due  time  was  all  raised.  At  this 
meeting  it  was  determined  to  call  the  first  boat  that  should 
be  built  or  purchased  for  the  trade  the  "  Falls  City".  It  was 
further  determined  that  it  should  leave  Pittsburg  for  the 
Falls  about  the  first  of  April,  1855.  A  board  of  directors 
consisting  of  A.  M.  Fridley,  J.  B.  Gilbert,  Z.  E.  B.  Nash,  and 
R.  Cutler,  of  St.  Anthony,  and  Edward  Murphy,  of  Minne- 
apolis, was  selected  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  those  who  had 
so  liberally  subscribed  to  the  enterprise.  These  gentlemen 
were  instructed  to  send  a  competent  agent  at  once  to  the  Ohio 
river  for  the  purpose  of  either  purchasing  or  building  a  boat 
suitable  for  the  trade.  Suffice  to  say,  in  due  time  the  instruc- 
tions were  i)retty  well  carried  out  by  the  committee.  In 
subsequent  years  a  steamer  called  the  "  Falls  City",  was  in 
the  trade.  Regular  trips  were  made  from  the  Falls  of  St. 
Anthony  to  the  ports  on  the  lower  Mississippi,  commanded 
at  different  times  by  Captain  Edward  Murphy,  Captain  J.  B. 
Gilbert,  and  Captain  John  Martin,  all  stockholders.  Captain 
John  C.  Reno  was  also  master  of  boats  that  ran  regularly 
between  St.  Anthony  Falls  and  ports  down  the  river. 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  255 

The  first  execution  in   Minnesota,  according  to  the  law  of 
the  territory  took  jjIjicc  in  St.  Paul,  on  the  27th  of  Decenihcr 
when  the  Dakota  Indian  Yuhazee  was  hung  for  the  murder' 
of  a  German  woman  above  Shakopee,  in  November,  1852. 

There  were  a  good  many  territorial  roads  laid  out  this  year 
from  St.  Anthony  and  Minneapolis  to  different  jmrts  of  the 
territory  ;  the  most  imijortant  of  which  was  one  from  the 
Falls  to  the  St.  Croix,  and  from  Minneapolis  to  the  western 
boundary  of  Sibley  county.  These  roads  were  established  by 
special  acts  of  the  legislature.  In  some  instances  there  was 
considerable  money  expended  on  them.  The  money  was 
raised  by  subscription  in  St.  Anthony  and  Minneajjolis. 

The  suspension  bridge  spanning  the  main  channel  of  the 
Mississippi  had,  on  the  5th  of  December,  received  its  last 
floor  beam.  On  that  day  Mr.  Griffith,  the  engineer,  invited 
the  gentlemen  of  the  press  at  the  Falls,  and  their  ladies,  to 
cross  the  structure  ui)on  the  first  span  that  ever  united  the 
opposite  banks  of  the  Mississippi  river.  Of  course  the  bridge 
was  far  from  being  completed  ;  it  would  require  months  of 
hard  work  before  it  could  be  used  for  teams,  and  for  that 
matter,  for  foot-passengers.  The  length  of  the  span  was  six 
hundred  and  twenty  feet  ;  vertical  deflection  of  cables  forty- 
seven  feet,  which  were  four  in  number,  and  each  comprised 
of  five  hundred  strands  of  No.  10  charcoal  iron  wire. 

On  December  4th  the  first  fire  company  was  organized  in 
St.  Anthony.  G.  B.  Hubbard  was  appointed  foreman,  E.  AV. 
Cummings  first-assistant,  S.  M.  Kickers  second-assistant,  D. 
S.  Moore  secretary,  and  Dr.  John  H.  Murphy  treasurer. 

Among  the  prominent  professional  men  who  became  citizens 
of  St.  Anthony  were  the  well-known  lawyers,  N.  H.  Hemiup, 
Geo.  A.  Nourse,  AVm.  J.  Parsons,  and  Edwin  Smith  Jones. 
In  subsequent  years  Mr.  Nourse  became  much  interested  in 
politics.  He  moved  to  the  Pacific  slope,  and  was  elected 
attorney-general  of  Nevada.  He  is  now  a  prominent  member 
of  the  San  Francisco,  California,  bar.  A  daughter  of  General 
Nourse  is  the  wife  of  a  son  of  Hon.  John  W.  North,  the 
pioneer  lawyer  of  St.  Anthony.  They  also  reside  in  Califor- 
nia. Mr.  Hemiup  has  also  made  St.  Anthony,  now  east 
Minneapolis,  his  home.  He  was  for  many  years  judge  of 
probate  of  Hennepin  county.     Mr.  Jones  moved  from    St. 


250  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Anthony  to  Minneapolis  in  tlie  spring-  of  1855.  He  was  a 
partner  of  Judge  Atwater,  at  that  time.  He  also  Ijecame 
judge  of  probate  of  Hennepin  county,  and  during  the  Mar  was 
a  commissary  with  the  rank  of  captain.  He  has  retired  from 
the  practice  of  law,  and  is  now  president  of  the  Hennepin 
country  savings  bank.  Judge  Jones  w^as  the  first  person 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Hennepin  county,  which  was  on  motion 
of  Isaac  Atwater,  at  the  April  term  of  the  district  court 
Judge  Chatfield  presiding,  in  1855.  Mr.  Parsons  remained 
in  St.  Anthony  for  over  a  year,  when  he  also  removed  to 
Minneapolis,  where  he  continued  the  practice  of  the  law 
Subsequently  he  moved  to  St.  Cloud,  and  from  that  place  to 
St.  Paul,  where  he  died  a  few  years  since. 

Chas.  L.  Chase,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  settled  in  St. 
Anthony  this  year.  He  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Captain  J. 
B.  Gilbert.  Mr.  Chase  established  a  bank  and  real-estate 
office,  and  was  for  several  years  an  active  business  man  in 
that  city.  He  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  territory  by 
President  Buchanan,  and  after  the  retiring  of  Governor 
Medary,  early  in  1858,  he  was,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  Gover- 
nor of  Minnesota,  which  position  he  held  until  May  24th. 
Another  gentleman  who  has  become  prominent  in  this  part 
of  the  state  who  came  to  St.  Anthony  this  year  is  W.  W. 
Eastman.  In  company  with  Captain  EoUins  and  R.  P.  Upton 
he  immediately  commenced  the  erection  of  a  large  flour  mill 
on  Hennepin  island.  He  was  also  a  pioneer  in  the  milling 
business  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Falls.  He  became  the  owner 
of  Nicollet  Island,  and  other  valuable  property  in  this  neigh- 
borhood. Mr.  Eastman  is  an  enterprising  citizen,  helpful  to 
this  city,  in  which  he  still  resides. 

Early  in  the  season  the  name  of  D.  Morrison,  Bangor,  Maine, 
apjjeared  on  the  register  of  the  St.  Charles  hotel  in  St.  Anthony. 
A  gentleman  of  exceedingly  keen  perception,  it  only  required 
a  glance  at  the  almost  undeveloi^ed  water-power,  and  other 
advantages  in  the  neighborhood,  to  convince  him  that  here 
was  a  rare  opportunity  for  investment.  Not  only  Minneapolis 
and  St.  Anthony,  but  the  whole  state,  has  been  greatly  benefit- 
ted by  Mr.  Morrison's  removal  to  Minnesota  in  1855. 

Citizens  on  both  sides  of  the  river  were  jjleased  with  the 
outlook  at  the  close  of  the  year  1854. 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

LOCAL  EVENTS   OF   EIGHTEEN    HUNDlRED   AND   FIFTY-FIVE. 

The  territorial  legislature  convened  in  St.  Paul  on  Monday 
the  third  day  of  January.  Joseph  R.  Brown  represented  the 
west  side  of  the  river  in  the  council,  and  Messrs.  H.  H.  Sibley 
and  D.  M.  Hanson  in  the  house  of  representatives.  The  del- 
egation from  St.  Anthony  was  Hon.  Chas.  T.  Stearns  in  the 
council,  and  Major  A.  M.  Fridley  and  Daniel  Stanchfield  in 
the  house.  M.  C.  Baker  of  Minneapolis  was  elected  one  of 
the  clerks  in  the  council,  and  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
only  newspaper  jjublislied  in  Hennepin  county,  W.  Augustus 
Hotchkiss,  was  elected  one  of  the  territorial  printers.  This 
was  the  first  honor  of  the  kind  ever  paid  to  a  Minneapolis 
editor.  It  was  worthily  bestowed,  and  when  we  considered 
that  the  paper  had  been  published  in  the  county  less  than  six 
months,  while  there  was  the  Pioneer,  the  Democrat,  and  the 
Minnesotian,  in  St.  Paul  (the  two  former  dailies),  we  felt  that 
the  county  was  coming  to  the  front  in  influence. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  territorial  agricultural  society  was 
held  in  the  hall  of  the  house  of  representatives  on  the  lOtli  of 
January,  Governor  Gorman,  the  i)resident,  in  the  chair.  The 
annual  address  was  by  Hon.  H.  H.  Sibley.  Of  the  many 
addresses  before  the  state  agricultural  society  none  have  been 
more  eloquent  and  impressive.  The  following  gentlemen 
were  elected  officers  of  the  society  :  John  H.  Stevens  of 
Hennepin  county,  president  ;  J.  W.  Selby  of  Ramsey,  Capt. 
Wm.  Holcoinbe  of  Washington,  Hon.  H.  H.  Sibley  of  Dakota, 
Hon,  S.  Baldwin  Olmstead  of  Benton,  Sweet  W.  Case  of 
Hennepin,  B.  W.    Dodd  of  Nicollet,  and  Hon.   Joseph  R. 


258  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Brown  of  Sibley,  vice-presidents  ;  Edward  Murpliy  of  Hen_ 
nepin,  secretary  ;  C.  H.  Parker  of  Ramsey,  treasurer.  On 
motion  of  W.  A.  Hotclikiss  of  Hennepin,  Major-  P.  B.  Furber 
of  Ramsey,  A.  Larpenteur  of  Ramsey,  Jas.  S.  Norris  of  Wash- 
ington, N.  E.  Stoddard  of  Hennepin,  and  Joseph  Haskell  of 
Washington,  were  appointed  the  executive  committee  for  the 
year. 

An  interesting  discussion  followed,  which  was  participated 
in  by  several  members  who  wished  to  impress  upon  the 
public  the  fact  that  Minnesota  was  not  only  a  grain-producing 
territory,  but  aflPorded  superior  advantages  for  stock  of  every 
description.  Rev.  B.  F.,Hoyt  of  St.  Paid  thought  the  society 
should  declare  the  self-evident  fact  that  the  territory  was 
decidedly  a  sheep-raising  or  wool-growing  country.  In  order 
to  show  the  opinion  that  was  entertained  by  the  society  at 
that  early  day  in  regard  to  the  probability  of  Minnesota 
becoming  a  wheat-producing  region,  I  copy  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  adopted  by  the  society.  It  was  intro- 
duced by  Mr.  Hotclikiss  : 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  society  that  the 
"  climate  and  soil  of  Minnesota  are  particularly  adapted  to  the 
"successful  growth  of  wheat." 

Here  is  another  introduced  by  Governor  Holcombe  of 
Washington  : 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  society  Minnesota 
"is  a  good,  stock -growing  country,  on  account  of  its  grasses 
"being  more  nutritious,  and  its  climate  more  healthful,  than  in 
"  other  regions  south  of  it." 

It  must  be  admitted  that  the  members  of  the  Minnesota 
agricultural  society  had  a  pretty  correct  knowledge  in  regard 
to  the  capability  of  the  soil.  Since  that  time  the  state  has 
become  known  all  over  the  world  for  its  great  productiveness 
in  wheat,  stock  and  wool. 

For  the  first  time  the  citizens  of  St.  Anthony  and  Minne- 
apolis, through  the  enterprise  of  the  butchers  in  the  former 
place,  observed  New  Years  with  turkey  on  their  tables.  The 
price  of  the  turkey,  in  those  days,  was  twenty-five  cents  per 
pound.  The  importation  was  overland  in  sleighs  from  Cen- 
tral Iowa. 

The  Carson  League,  a  temperance  organization,  was  started 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   I'EOrLE.  250 

in  Minneapolis,  with  Rev.  J.  C.  Whitney,  i)iesi(lent,  and  A. 
K.  Hartwell,  secretary.  Nearly  every  man  and  woman  in  the 
village  became  members  of  the  organization. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  Hennepin  Lodge  No.  4,  held  in 
Masonic  hall,  on  St.  John's  day,  the  following  officers  of  the 
lodge  were  elected  for  the  year  1855  :  E.  A.  Hodsdon,  W.  M. ; 
J.  N.  Barber,  S.  AV.;  John  H.  Stevens,  J.  W.;  E.  Case,  treas- 
urer ;  Oharles  Hoag,  secretary  ;  S.  J.  Mason,  S.  D. ;  E.  Rob- 
inson, J.  D.,  Calvin  Church,  Tyler, 

The  first  stage  line  from  Minneapolis  and  St.  Anthony  by 
way  of  St.  Paul  and  Taylor's  Falls  to  Lake  Superior,  was 
established  early  in  January  of  this  year.  The  proi)rietor 
was  William  Nettleton,  now  of  St.  Paul,  but  then  a  resident 
of  what  is  now  Duluth. 

A  brass  band,  the  first  organized  at  the  Falls,  under  the 
superintendence  of  Mr.  Lawrence,  became  prominent  not 
only  in  musical  circles,  but  in  festivals  and  social  gatherings, 
this  winter.  One  can  hardly  imagine  how  much  enjoyment 
there  was  in  the  presence  of  this  new  organization. 

Franklin  Steele  and  Isaac  Atwater  were  elected  members 
of  the  Board  of  Regents  by  the  legislature  in  joint  conven- 
tion early  in  January.  Major  A.  M.  Fridley  of  St.  Anthony 
and  M.  Black  of  Stillwater  were  elected  at  the  same  time, 
making  all  the  members  of  the  Board  in  January,  1855,  as 
follows  :  Franklin  Steele,  Isaac  Atwater,  A.  M.  Fridley,  H. 
M.  Rice,  S.Nelson, Rev.  J.  G.  Rheildaffer,  J.  H.  Stevens,  H.  H. 
Sibley,  Alex.  Ramsey,  B.  B.  Meeker,  A.  Van  Vorhes,  Geo. 
W.  Farrington,  and  M.  Black.  Messrs.  Steele,  Atwater, 
Fridley,  Meeker,  and  Stevens,  were  residents  or  owners  of 
property  at  the  Falls.  The  other  members  of  the  board  were 
all  friendly  to  the  University,  and  aided  in  every  possible 
way  to  push  it  forward  to  completion. 

In  the  early  part  of  January  Mr.  J.  J.  Kennedy  of  St. 
Anthony  moved  over  to  Minneapolis  and  o})ened  a  boot  and 
shoe  store.  This  was  the  first  establishment  of  the  kind  in 
Minneapolis. 

SUSPENSION  BRIDGE  OPENED  FOR  TRAVEL. 
Up  to  this  time,  during  the  suspension  of  navigation,  the 
citizens  of  the  territory  had  only  weekly  mail  service  from  the 
lower  country.     Through  the  energy  of  Hon.  H.  M.  Rice,  our 


260  PERSONAL    EECOLLECTIONS 

delegate  in  congress,  a  tri-weekly  mail  from  Dubuque  to  St. 
Paul  was  established,  commencing  January  15tli. 

Tlie  completion  for  travel  of  tlie  suspension  bridge  was 
observed  by  a  grand  celebration  of  tlie  citizens  at  the  St. 
Charles  hotel  in  St.  Anthony,  on  the  23d  of  January.  Nearly 
all  the  citizens  on  each  side  of  the  river  participated  in  the 
event.  While  the  bridge  was  not  entirely  finished,  yet  it 
was  thrown  home  to  the  traveling  public.  The  toll-house  was 
completed,  and  the  directors  selected  Captain  John  Tapper 
to  occupy  it  and  receive  toll.  The  order  of  exercises  in  cele- 
bration of  the  event  was  as  follows  :  First,  citizens  and  the 
mechanics  of  the  work  with  the  invited  guests  convened  at 
the,  St.  Charles  hotel  at  1  o'clock,  when  a  procession  of  over  a 
mile  in  length  was  formed  and  moved  from  the  hotel  headed 
by  a  band  of  music,  all  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  J.  H. 
Murphy,  Marshal  of  the  Day,  and  Z.  E.  B.  Nash,  assistant, 
and  Captain  John  Martin,  standard-bearer,  and  passed  down 
Main  street  and  crossed  over  to  Nicollet  island,  where  a 
cannon  was  stationed  to  boom  forth  the  peculiar  joy  of  the 
occasion.  From  the  island  the  procession  crossed  over  the 
bridge  into  Minneapolis,  passed  down  Washington  avenue, 
up  Second  street  to  the  bridge,  recrossed,  passed  down  Main 
street,  St.  Anthony,  and  up  Second  street  to  St., Charles, 
where  six  long  tables  were  spread  with  a  dinner  for  the  com- 
pany. The  officers  of  the  day  were  Wm.  J.  Parsons,  president; 
John  G.  Lennon,  John  H.  Stevens,  K.  P.  Russell,  and  J.  B. 
Gilbert,  vice-presidents.  After  dinner  toasts  were  drank,  and 
responses  made  by  L.  M.  Olds,  Captain  J.  H.  Simpson  of  the 
corps  of  U.  S.  topographical  engineers  ;  T.  M.  Griffiths, 
engineer  of  the  bridge  ;  J.  H.  Trader,  Wm.  P.  Murray,  St. 
Paul  ;  Oscar  F.  Perkins,  now  of  Northfield,  Minnesota  ;  H. 
H.  Sibley;  Geo.  D.  Bowman,  editor  of  the  St.  Anthony 
Express  ;  Geo.  F.  Brott,  John  Mc  M.  Holland  of  Shakopee, 
and  Captain  John  Tapper.  Probably  this  was  one  of  the 
most  interesting  meetings  that  had  been  held  in  the  village. 

On  the  22d  of  January  a  large  meeting  was  held  in  Minne- 
apolis, by  the  citizens,  protesting  against  a  bill  that  had  been 
introduced  and  was  likely  to  pass  through  congress,  granting 
a  large  amount  of  land  to  the  Minnesota  and  Northwestern 
railroad   company.       This  was   a   Minnesota  company,   the 


OF    xMlNNESUTA    AND    ITS    I'EorLE.  2<Il 

charter  of  which  had  previously  been  granted  by  the  terri- 
torial legislature,  Messrs.  Joel  B.  Bassett,  E.  Hedderly,  Dr. 
H.  Fletcher,  Isaac  Brown,  and  B.  E.  Messer,  made  speeches 
against  the  passage  of  the  bill.  This  was  the  first  measure 
taken  by  congress  which  ended  in  subsequent  sessions  «)f 
that  body  granting  to  this  state  several  millions  of  acres  of 
the  pul)lic  domain  to  aid  in  building  railroads. 

On  the  27th  of  January  Frederick,  youngest  son  of  D.  M. 
Coolbaugh,  died  aged  six  years. 

The  Winnebago  chief  Winneshiek,  and  six  of  the  principal 
men  of  his  tribe,  arrived  in  St.  Anthony  on  the  25th.  They 
were  on  their  way  to  Washington  for  the  purpose  of  a  treaty 
with  the  United  States  government  with  reference  to  their 
lands.  AVinneshiek  declared  that  his  people  could  not  and 
would  not  remain  at  Long  Prairie.  Neither  the  government 
nor  he  could  prevent  them  from  leaving  their  reservation, 
which  they  hated  so  thoroughly,  and  until  a  new  and  better 
home  should  be  selected  for  his  nation  the  whites  above  the 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony  must  expect  to  be  more  or  less  visited 
by  members  of  his  tribe. 

Two  men  by  the  name  of  John  Burke  and  John  Banvil, 
working  in  the  pineries  for  Leonard  Day  of  St.  Anthony, 
were  killed  by  the  Indians  on  Eum  river. 

Two  of  the  pastors  of  the  churches  at  the  Falls,  Rev.  J.  C. 
Whitney  of  Minneapolis,  and  Rev.  J.  B.  Mills  of  St.  Anthony, 
and  presiding  elder  Rev.  David  Brooks  who  resided  in  St. 
Anthony,  each  received  presents  of  valuable  sleighs  this 
winter. 

On  the  15th  of  February  the  gratifying  news  was  received 
of  the  extending  of  the  pn^Muption  acts  by  congress  to  settlers 
on  the  recent  Fort  Snelling  reservation.  This  secured  to 
each  settler  his  home. 

The  claim  association,  which  had  accomplished  such  a  great 
benefit  to  the  settlers,  was  immediately  dissolved  on  the  news 
of  the  passage  of  the  preemption  law,  which  was  received 
with  great  satisfaction  by  the  settlers.  Public  meetings  were 
held  and  many  thanks  bestowed  upon  Henry  M.  Rice,  Frank- 
lin Steele,  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames  and  others  who  were  instrumental 
in  pushing  the  bill  through  congress.  The  members  of  the 
national  house  of  repi-esentatives  from  Illinois,  E.  B.  Wash- 


262  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

burne,  Wm.  A.  Richardson,  and  Col.  Thos.  H.  Benton  of 
Missoiiri,  took  part  in  the  debate  and  warmly  advocated  the 
interests  of  the  settlers.  Mr.  Eice  made  several  speeches  in 
their  favor.  In  the  senate  Mr.  Stuart  of  Michigan,  Stephen 
A.  Douglas  and  Gen.  Jas.  Shields  of  Illinois,  and  Cooi)er  of 
Pennsylvania,  advocated  the  passage  of  the  bill,  while  Salmon 
P.  Chase  of  Ohio,  and  Senator  Walker  of  Wisconsin,  favored 
an  amendment  that  would  have  been  fatal  to  the  bill. 

About  the  same  time  of  the  news  of  the  passage  of  the 
bill  through  congress  bringing  relief  to  the  settlers  in  Henne- 
pin county,  word  was  received  that  the  delegation  that  had 
been  sent  to  the  Ohio  river  for  a  steamboat,  had  been  success- 
ful, and  the  Falls  City,  Captain  J.  B.  Gilbert,  would  arrive  at 
the  Falls  on  the  opening  of  navigation.  This  important 
announcement  was  as  follows  : 

"  For  St.  Anthony,  M.  T.,  direct,  and  all  landings  on  the 
'  upper  Mississippi.  The  new  and  substantial  steamer  Falls 
'  City,  now  being  built  and  finished  at  Wellsville,  Ohio,  J,  B. 
'  Gilbert,  master,  will  leave  Pittsburgh  for  the  above  and  all 
'  intermediate  landings,  on  the  opening  of  navigation  of  the 
'  upper  Mississippi.  For  freight  or  passage  apply  on  board, 
*  or  to  John  Flack,  Pittsburgh,  E.  Cutler  or  P.  F.  Geisse,  Wells- 
'ville,  Ohio,  W.  Eberhart,  Eock  Island,  Illinois,  Geo.  E. 
'West  &  Co.,  Dubuque,  Iowa,  E.  P.  Upton,  Z.  E.  B.  Nash, 
'D.  E.  Moiilton,  St.  Anthony  Falls  ;  E.  Murphy,  John 
'  Jackins,  Minneapolis  ;  Burbank  &  Co.,  St.  Paul.  The  Falls 
'City  is  an  entirely  new  and  speedy  boat  ;  powerful 
'  machinery,  built  by  Geisse,  of  very  light  draught,  excellent 
'accommodations,  will  be  splendidly  furnished  and  finished, 
'  built  expressly  for  the  St.  Anthony  steamboat  comi:)any, 
'  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  E.  Cutler,  engineer  ; 
'and  will  run  as  a  regular  packet  from  Eock  Island  or 
'  Dubuque  to  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  through  the  season, 
'  and  be  manned  by  careful  and  reliable  officers  and  men." 

At  last  the  fond  hopes  of  the  people  at  the  head  of  naviga- 
tion were  about  to  be  realized. 

Dr.  Ames  arrived  home  from  Washington  March  1,  having 
l)een  entirely  successful  in  his  mission  to  Washington.  A 
bill  had  been  introduced  in  the  legislature  which,  had  it 
become  a  law,  M^ould  have  changed  the  relations  of  St.  Anthony 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    I'l'.OPLE.  263 

to  US  on  the  west  bank  of  tlie  river  for  many  years,  if  not  for 
all  time  to  come.  The  provisions  of  this  bill  Mere  to  make  u 
new  county  ont  of  Benton  and  Ramsey.  The  southern  line 
was  at  Denoyer  s  ;  the  northern  a  mile  south  of  Itaska  ;  the 
eastern  the  Mississippi  river  ;  the  western  at  the  junction  of 
the  two  branches  of  Hum  river;  with  the  county-seat  at  St. 
Anthony.  Prol)ab]y  with  a  little  stronj^er  etfoi't  on  the  i)art  of 
the  citizens  of  St.  Anthony,  the  bill  would  have  passed  the 
legislature.  A^'ith  t  wo  county-seats  at  the  Falls  the  prosperity 
would  have  been  increased,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  there  would 
have  been  a  matrimonial  alliance  between  the  two  cities. 

There  were  fifty-one  teams  in  the  ])ineries  from  St.  Anthony 
during  the  winter.  A  mill  was  commenced  at  the  junction  of 
Crow  river  with  the  Mississipi)i,  byE.  H.  Robinson  and  John 
Baxter. 

ST.    ANTHONY   BECOMES   A   CITY. 

On  the  4th  of  March  Dr.  Ames  arrived  from  •Washington. 
St.  Anthony  was  no  longer  a  village  ;  the  legislature  had 
granted  a  city  charter  to  the  jjlace.  At  the  first  city  election 
Henry  T.  Welles  was  elected  mayor  over  John  Rollins  by  a 
small  majority.  Both  candidates  were  very  popular.  The 
other  officers  were  Lardner  Bostwick,  city  justice  ;  John  Ortli 
and  Benjamin  Spencer,  aldermen  from  the  first  ward  ;  Daniel 
Stanchfield  and  Edward  Lippencott,  from  the  second  ward  ; 
Robert  W^.  Cummings  and  Caleb  D.  Dorr,  from  the  tliird 
ward.  The  city  council  at  its  first  session  selected  W.  F. 
Brawley  for  city  clerk,  Dr.  Ira  Kingsley  for  treasurer,  S.  AY. 
Farnham  for  assessor,  B.  J.  Brown  for  marshal,  E.  L.  Hall 
for  city  attorney,  Z.  E.  B.  Nash  for  collector,  Isaac  Gilpatrick 
for  street  supervisor,  and  Geo.  D.  Bowman  for  city  printer. 

A  terrific  wind-storm  on  Sunday,  March  21st,  swept  over 
Minneapolis.  The  roadway  of  the  new  suspension-bridge 
was  forced  from  the  cables,  the  castings  to  which  the  suspen- 
sion wires  were  fastened  giving  way  about  midway  between 
the  towns  on  either  bank  of  the  river.  This  was  the  most 
severe  storm  that  has  ever  passed  over  Minneapolis  since  its 
settlement. 

On  the  27th  of  March  the  Republican  party  in  Minnesota 
was  organized  in  Central  hall  in  St.  Anthony.  Wm.  R. 
Marshall  occupied  the  chair. 


264  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

A  Farmers'  Club,  the  first  in  Minnesota,  was  established  in 
Minneapolis  with  Dr.  Ames  president,  N.  E.  Stoddard,  Chas. 
Hoag,  and  S.  W.  Case,  vice-presidents  ;  Allen  Harmon, 
treasurer,  and  Edward  Murphy  secretary.  This  was  the 
parent  of  these  organizations,  not  only  in  Minnesota,  but  the 
whole  northwest,  and  was  a  real  benefit  to  the  farmers. 

Holy  Trinity  church  in  St,  Anthony  was  consecrated  the 
first  Sabbath  in  April,  by  Bishop  Kemper  of  Wisconsin. 

The  citizens  on  both  banks  of  the  river  met  with  a  great 
loss  in  the  death  of  Shelton  HoUister,  one  of  the  most  prom- 
ising young  business  men  in  the  territory.  Mr.  Hollister  had 
only  been  married  a  short  time.     His  death  occurred  April  20. 

The  Minnetonka  mills  were  destroyed  by  fire  April  2d  ;  and 
about  the  same  time  the  stable  of  Mr.  John  Dugan  of  Rich- 
field took  fire  from  a  candle  in  the  hands  of  his  son  while 
taking  care  of  the  horses,  and  the  stable,  horses,  and  boy  were 
soon  reducedsito  ashes.  While  endeavoring  to  save  the  boy, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dugan  and  another  son  were  badly  burned. 

Hon.  Martin  McLeod,  long  an  Indian  trader,  abandoned 
that  business  and  settled  on  his  farm  at  Bloomiugton. 

The  trustees  of  the  district  school  in  Minneapolis  secured 
the  services  of  Mrs.  Hubbel,  from  Connecticut,  as  teacher  for 
the  spring  and  summer  terms.  Miss  Boyington  remained  as 
principal  in  the  select-school. 

The  two  new  steamers,  the  H.  M.  Rice  and  the  North  Star, 
with  the  Governor  Ramsey,  engaged  in  the  trade  from  the 
Falls  to  Sauk  Rapids.  Mr.  Calvin  Church  established  a  daily 
stage-line  from  Minneapolis  to  St.  Paul,  greatly  to  the  con- 
venience of  the  citizens  of  both  places.  In  consequence  of 
the  destruction  of  the  roadway  on  the  suspension-bridge  it 
became  necessary  for  Captain  Tapper  to  resume  service  with 
his  ferry  again.  Rev.  Seth  Barnes,  a  prominent  universalist 
clergyman,  arrived  in  St.  Anthony.  He  is  a  son-in-law  of 
Ezra  Dorman. 

The  i)roper  instructions  having  been  received  from  Wash- 
ington, by  the  local  officers  of  the  land-department,  the  settlers 
on  the  late  reservation  commenced  proving  up  their  pre- 
emptions. So  rapidly  Avere  their  homesteads  entered  that  by 
the  15th  of  May  most  of  them  had  their  duplicates. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

EXPLORING   EXPEDITION   WESTWARD  THKOUGH   THE  BIG  WOODS. 

Now  that  my  old  ferry  farm  could  be  no  longer  used  for 
agricultural  purposes,  I  was  anxious  to  secure  another  farm, 
and  after  consulting  with  Hon.  Martin  McLeod,  who  was 
somewhat  accpiainted  with  the  country  west  of  Minneapolis, 
it  was  decided  to  prospect  in  the  then  comparatively  unex- 
plored country  west  and  southwest  of  Minneapolis.  I  say 
comparatively  unexj)lored,  because  only  the  missionaries,  the 
Indian  traders,  and  the  voyageurs,  had  j)assed  over  that  region. 

PROMOTERS  OF  THE   ENTERPRISE  AND  MEMBERS  OF   THE    PARTY. 

During  the  early  part  of  May  there  had  arrived  in  Miiuie- 
sota,  from  different  parts  of  the  Union,  several  gentlemen 
who  wanted  to  select  homes  and  move  west  with  their  families. 
Among  them  were  Hon.  Samuel  Mayall,  a  member  of  congress 
from  Maine,  his  brother  James  H.  Maynll,  state  senator 
Vinton,  also  from  Maine,  Andrew  J.  Bell  of  Virginia,  and 
several  others,  who  desired  to  join  me  in  the  expedition. 
Their  object  and  mine  was  to  locate  in  a  new  country  where 
there  was  rich  agricultural  land,  and  wheie  no  claims  had 
been  taken.  Mr.  McLeod  was  to  be  the  guide  of  the  party, 
the  members  of  which  wore  James  H.  Mayall,  M.  Vinton. 
Isaac  B.  Edwards,  A.  J.  Bell,  Hon.  Martin  McLeod,  and 
John  H.  Stevens,  with  George  Parks  as  teamster.      , 

A   JOURNEY  THROUGH   THE   BIG   WOODS. 
The  party  left  Minneapolis  on  the  morning  of  the  17th  of 
May.     The  first  uiglit    they    encamped  at   nine-mile-creek. 
On  the  morning  of  the  second  day  they  were  joined  by  the 


266  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

one  wlio  was  to  guide  them  through  the  wilderness  to  the 
promised  land.  The  county  of  McLeod  bears  his  worthy 
name.  A  man  of  noble  form,  commanding  presence,  cultured 
intellect,  he  was  dignified,  eloquent,  persuasive,  charming. 
The  second  day's  journey  brought  us  to  a  brook  near  where 
the  village  of  Carver  now  stands.  From  this  point,  on  the 
morning  of  the  third  day  we  commenced  the  difficult  journey 
through  the  big  woods.  Turning  a  due  west  course,  on  the 
19th,  with  facilities  to  clear  the  way  for  teams,  the  way  was 
toilsome  to  those  who  were  unaccustomed  to  swinging  the 
axe,  and  unused  to  felling  trees.  Before  noon  all  hands  were 
blistered,  and  when  twilight  came  we  were  only  eight  miles 
on  the  way.  Ethiopians  never  had  faces  of  more  sable  hue. 
We  camped  for  the  night  on  the  shores  of  what  is  now  known 
as  Lake  Benton,  since  included  in  the  Lutz  farm.  During 
the  next  day's  journey  we  came  to  a  curious  ancient  building 
of  huge  oak-logs,  in  the  dense  forest.  It  was  two  stories  high, 
without  doors  or  windows,  the  only  entrance  being  at  the  top. 
Evidently  it  was  the  work  of  the  last  century,  for  J.  S.  Let- 
ford,  a  member  of  the  legislature  from  Carver  county,  found 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  strange  structure,  in  the  centre  of 
a  maple  tree  he  had  cut  down,  and  which  was  at  least  a 
hundred  and  fifty  years  old,  a  pistol  of  French  manufacture. 
It  was  probably  concealed  in  a  sapling  and  the  growth  of  the 
tree  had  encircled  the  weapon.  On  the  evening  of  the  20tli 
we  camped  by  a  lake,  and  wild  animals  prowled  around  us 
all  night  long,  in  consequence  of  which  Mr.  McLeod  called 
the  place  of  our  discomfort  Tiger  Lake,  a  name  it  bears  to 
this  day. 

THE   HOME   OF   THE    BUFFALO. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  we  found  an  Indian  trail 
and  followed  it  through  the  forest  to  the  prairie.  From  the 
dense,  shady,  native  woods,  to  the  open,  smooth,  sunny  plains, 
the  change  was  so  sudden,  and  the  contrast  so  great,  that  a 
new  world  of  wondrous  beauty  seemed  open  to  our  view. 
For  three  days  we  had  traveled  in  the  heavy  belt  of  timber 
which  extended  fi-oin  the  cloudy  waters  of  the  Minnesota  river 
to  the  borders  of  tlie  northwestern  open  coiintry  called  by  the 
red  men  Ta-tonka-ka-ga-pi,  or  the  home  of  the  buffalo.  From 
the  foliage  overhead,  trembling  in  the  bi-eeze,  with  glimpses 


or    MIXNKSOTA    AND    IIS    I'KOPLE.  207 

of  blue  sky  l)ey()ii(l,  we  had  oome  to  a  j^roundwork  of  living 
green  o'ertopjjed  with  bright,  delicate  flowers  that  gracefully 
yielded  to  caresses  of  the  gentle  zephyrs  that  wafted  their 
fragrance  to  us,  as  Me  stood  with  uncovered  lu^ads,  enchanted 
by  our  first  view  of  the  lonely,  lovely  wilderness,  now  first 
visited  by  wliite  men  for  settlement. 

A  few  days  j)ro\ious  to  our  toilsome  journey  through  the 
woods  a  terribly  destructive  fire  had  occurred  which  swej)t 
across  a  portion  of  the  timber  land  over  which  we  traveled. 
It  was  said  to  have  originated  in  a  wigwam  midway  between 
the  Minnesota  river  and  the  jjrairio.  The  fire  left  scars  upon 
the  larger  trees  which  are  visible  to  this  day.  In  crossing 
the  burnt  district  every  step  taken,  and  every  blow  of  the  axe, 
was  accompanied  by  a  shower  of  soot  blacker  than  the  rich 
soil  of  that  region  that  i)roduced  such  abundant  harvests  in 
after  years.  The  deej),  rich  loam,  when  nxids  were  laid  out 
over  the  route  that  we  traveled,  when  soaked  by  copious  rains, 
caused  the  bottom  of  the  highways  to  fall  out. 

TAKING    rOSSESSION    OF    A    NATURAL    LAWN    AND    PARK. 

The  lovely  vision  of  the  prairie,  dotted  with  groves,  extend- 
ing far  out  to  the  western  horizon,  gave  assurance  that  the 
time  was  near  when  this  fair  domain  would  be  the  happy 
abode  of  man.  This  pioneer  party  predicted  that  before  the 
snows  of  another  winter  should  whiten  the  landscaj^e,  or  the 
rainbows  of  summer  cease  to  arch  the  clouds  with  a  halo  of 
glory,  this  seeming  fairy  land  would  teem  with  an  enlightened 
class  of  immigrants  ;  a  i)rophecy  soon  fulfill&d,  for  the  first 
prairie  team  was  engineered  thrt)ugh  the  woods  to  that  land 
of  promise  on  the  11th  of  June,  by  a  man  who  introduced  to 
the  present  townsite  of  Glencoe  a  cradle,  and  was  the  father 
of  the  first  white  human  fiower  in  that  region  that  blossomed 
with  a  smile  uj)on  its  mother's  l)osoni.  That  father  is  now  a 
resident  capitalist  of  California,  Wni.  S.  Chapman,  and  that 
babe,  grown  to  maturity,  is  the  wife  of  a  son  of  U.  S.  Grant. 

THE    TOWNSITE    OF    GLENCOE. 

There  was  a  diversity  of  opinion  as  to  the  point  which  we 
should  select  for  the  center  of  the  colony  we  jjroposed  to 
introduce.  We  were  satisfied  with  the  soil,  timber,  i)rairie 
and  water.  Some  of  the  party  wanted  to  establish  the 
proposed  townsite  a  short  distance  west  of  the  crossing  of 


268 


PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 


BufPalo  creek  ;  others  were  favorable  to  the  peninsula-shaped 
prairie  that  extended  into  the  timber  three  or  four  miles  up 
the  stream  from  the  crossing.  After  a  thorough  examination 
of  the  adjoining  counti^  it  was  decided  to  select  the  last-i 
named  point.  This  was  the  origin  of  Glencoe.  Each  member 
of  the  party  selected  a  claim  in  the  vicinity.  We  continued 
our  journey  to  a  point  on  the  Minnesota  river  near  Traverse 
des  Sioux,  with  a  yiew  that  if  a  more  desirable  location  could 
be  found  we  would  abandon  the  one  already  made.  We 
skirted  the  timber  to  High-Island  Lake,  now  New  Auburn, 
some  ten  miles.  From  the  lake  we  went  directly  to  the  Min- 
nesota river,  where  the  city  of  St.  Peter  now  stands,  where 
we  arrived  the  second  day  out  from  the  lake.  From  this 
point  we  followed  the  river  to  Bloomington  Ferry,  and  thence 
home.  The  entire  distance  traveled  j^resented  continued 
inducements  to  occupy  farms,  but  w^e  could  not  improve  on 
the  selection  already  made.  Vigorous  measures  were  taken 
1;o  call  the  attention  of  immigrants  to  the  advantages  of  the 
newly-explored  country  for  agriculture.  Our  efforts  were 
attended  with  success,  and  by  fall  settlers  had  located  along 
the  route  we  had  traveled,  to  a  surprising  extent.  That  sec- 
tion is  now  among  the  most  favored  agricultural  communities 
of  a  favored  state. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

MINNEAPOLIS    PUTTING   ON    METROPOLITAN   AIRS. 

Though  absent  from  Minneapolis  only  two  weeks,  we  found 
more  buildings  in  process  of  erection  than  there  was  in  the 
place  when  we  left.  We  found,  too,  that  the  v^illage  had, 
what  it  never  contained  before,  a  burglar,  and  a  sneak-thief. 
The  store  of  Wm.  1).  Babbitt  w^as  broken  open,  one  night  in 
May,  and  some  two  hundred  dollars  in  money  stolen  ;  and  a 
sneak-thief  took  from  a  boarder  at  Mr.  Bushnell's  hotel  three 
hundred  dollars.  These  were  the  first  depredations  of  this 
character  in  Minneapolis.  A  span  of  horses  had  also  been 
stolen.  It  is  singiilar  that  neither  the  sneak-thief,  the  burglar 
or  the  horse-thief  were  ever  discovered  in  such  a  way  that 
'they  could  be  punished. 

Just  about  this  time  a  young  man  committed  suicide  by 
cutting  his  throat,  another  attemjjted  to  cross  the  river  in  a 
canoe  and  was  drowned,  and  a  man  died  from  the  effects  of 
strong  drink. 

Up  to  this  time  we  had  been  proud  of  our  record  ;  but 
Minneapolis  was  no  longer  an  infant,  and  it  could  not  expect 
to  retain  its  innocence  and  purity  when  we  could  no  longer 
select  the  persons  we  wished  to  have  make  homes  with  us. 
Again,  in  these  early  days,  the  prosperous  cities  away  up 
north* were  infested,  during  the  summer,  with  persons  known 
in  New  Orleans  as  wharf-rats,  who  came  up  the  Mississippi 
early  in  the  spring  and  returned  late  in  the  fall.  Heretofore 
St.  Anthony  and  Minneapolis  had  not  been  of  sufficient  size 
to  attract  the  attention  of  these  light-fingered  gentry. 

The  most  important  event  that  occurred  here  in  May  of 


270  PEliSOXAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

this  year  was  the  importation  by  Captain  Rollins,  from  Iowa 
and  Illinois,  by  steamer  to  the  St,  Anthony  steamboat  landing, 
of  two  thousand  l)ushels  of  wheat,  to  be  ground  at  the  Hen- 
nepin Island  flouring-mill,  of  which  Captain  Rollins  was  one 
of  the  proi^rietors.  This  importation  of  grain,  on  the  26th, 
was  the  subject  of  general  comment  by  the  business  men  of 
that  day  in  this  vicinity.  The  enterprise  was  a  large  one  for 
those  times. 

There  was  not  sufficient  wheat  raised  by  the  home  farmers 
to  supply  the  first  merchant  mill  built  at  the  Falls,  and  the 
owners  of  the  mill  had  to  depend  uj^on  Illinois  and  Iowa  to 
sujDply  the  demand.  How  different  in  the  same  locality  in 
1888,  when  there  was  delivered  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony 
44,552,730  bushels  of  wheat,  all  the  product  of  the  northwest, 
and  of  this  large  amount  there  was  manufactured  at  the  Falls 
7,099,180  barrels  of  flour,  one-third  of  which  was  exported  to 
the  old  world  to  feed  the  hungry  inhabitants  of  Europe.  The 
combined  daily  capacity  of  the  twenty-two  flour  mills  at  the 
Falls,  in  1888,  was  37,475  barrels  ;  one  of  them,  the  Pillsbury 
A,  is  the  largest  mill  in  the  world,  with  a  daily  capacity  of 
7,200  barrels  ;  while  the  ancient  mill  { and  it  was  a  large  one 
for  the  times )  was  incapable  of  turning  out  more  than  one 
hundred  barrels  per  day,  and  was  idle  a  jjortion  of  the  time 
from  inability  of  its  owners  to  secure  enough  wheat  to  keej) 
it  running. 

During  the  first  half  of  the  year  several  young  couples 
in  Minneapolis  wisely  concluded  to  add  to  their  felicity  wed- 
ded bliss.  Among  them  were  Nelson  Pratt  and  Mary  A. 
Midwood,  Geo.  W.  Townsend  and  Martha  E.  Stough,  Joseph 
LeDuc  and  Elizabeth  Bertram,  Eli  B.  Gifford  and  Mary  F. 
Judd,  Josiah  P.  Harrison  and  Jane  E.  Haycock,  and  Edgar 
Nash  and  Virginia  V.  Bartholomew. 

Sheriff  Messer  completed  the  census  of  Hennepin  county 
early  in  the  summer,  and  his  returns  indicated  a  population 
of  4,171  -  a  large  number  considering  that  so  short  a  time  had 
elapsed  since  the  occupancy  of  the  county  by  the  native  red 
men.  Not  an  acre  of  her  lands  were  brought  into  market 
until  the  spring  of  1855. 

The  suspension-bridge  was  repaired  and  open  to  travel 
early   in   the    summer.     The   engineer   of  the   bridge,   Mr. 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  271 

GriffitliK,  was  presented  with  a  valuable  token  of  appreciation 
of  his  services,  by  Mr,  Sibley  and  other  directors,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  completion  of  tho  l)ridge.  There  were  two 
other  bridges  built  over  the  Mississippi,  a  year  or  two  aft«M-- 
wards  ;  one  opposite  Christmas'  addition  to  Minneapolis,  and 
the  other  opjjosite  Calvin  A.  Tuttle's  St.  Anthony  residence  ; 
but  the  suspension-bridge  outlived  them,  and  had  not  the  city 
council,  in  1875,  decided  to  replace  it  by  a  larger  structure, 
it  would  undoubtedly  have  been  a  good  bridge  up  to  this 
time. 

ARRIVAL   OF   CAPITALISTS   AND   PROFESSIONAL   MEN. 

As  the  summer  approached,  there  arrived  in  Minneapolis 
Simon  P.  Snyder  and  AVm.  K.  McFarlane,  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  These  gentlemen  immediately  entered  into 
partnership,  and  for  several  years  were  the  most  active  busi- 
ness men  in  Minneapolis.  Their  business  was  confined  to 
operations  in  real-estate  and  banking.  This  firm  contributed 
very  largely  in  developing  the  resources  of  Minneapolis,  and 
for  that  matter  the  whole  territory.  They  employed  a  large 
capital  in  their  business,  and  having  the  utmost  confidence  in 
the  country,  they  adopted  measures  to  spread  a  knowledge  of 
the  advantages  of  the  territory  throughout  the  Union  by  dis- 
tributing a  large  number  of  circulars  in  most  of  the  states. 
These  papers  contained  articles  setting  forth  the  advantages 
of  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony, 
as  well  as  the  whole  territory  ;  and  probably  to  Messrs. 
Snyder  &  McFarlane  are  the  citizens  of  Minneapolis  more 
indebted  than  to  any  others  for  the  rapid  j)rogress  in  the 
early  industries  on  the  west  side  of  the  Falls.  Nor  were 
their  good  works  confined  to  Minneaj^olis  ;  they  extended  all 
over  the  territory.  To  these  men  are  many  farmers  indebted 
for  the  money  with  which  they  entered  their  land. 

Soon  after  the  Messrs.  Snyder  &  McFarlane  had  selected 
Minneapolis  as  their  business  center,  Hon.  C.  H.  Pettit  came 
and  at  once  opened  a  banking-house.  Mr.  Pettit  was  one  of 
the  prominent  men  of  the  early  days  of  Minneapolis,  and 
w^orked  for  everything  that  could  benefit  the  place. 

H.  B.  Hancock  and  Uriah  Thomas  selected  Minneapolis  as 
their  residence  about  the  same  time.  Their  business  was 
dealing  in  real  estate  and  loaning  money.     In  addition,  Mr. 


272  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Hancock  was  an  accomplished  lawyer.  This  firm  was  for 
several  years  very  prominent  in  business  circles  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  contributed,  as  did  Messrs.  Snyder  &  McFarlane 
and  Pettit,  very  much  to  the  prosperity  of  the  place.  These 
three  firms  introduced  into  Minneapolis  a  good  deal  of  capi- 
tal, and  coming  here,  as  they  did,  when  the  settlers  required 
every  dollar  they  could  possibly  raise  to  pay  the  government 
for  their  land,  which  had  just  come  into  market,  their  arrival 
was  most  welcome,  not  only  to  those  Avho  had  to  prove  up 
their  preemptions,  but  to  the  business  men  generally,  as  it 
afPorded  them  an  opportunity  which  had  never  existed  before 
of  obtaining  money  at  reasonable  rates  of  interest  whenever 
the  emergency  of  their  business  required  it. 

Early  this  summer  another  physician  was  introduced  into 
Minneapolis,  Dr.  W.  H.  Leonard  who,  from  the  time  of  his 
arrival  to  this  day  has  occupied  a  high  position  in  the  pro- 
fession. This  addition  to  the  citizenship  of  Minneapolis 
gave  us  three  resident  physicians,  viz. :  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  Dr. 
J.  S.  Elliott,  and  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Leonard. 

There  was  a  great  scarcity  of  mechanics  early  in  this  build- 
ing season,  so  that  when  L.  T.  Tabour  and  J.  Doty  came  up 
from  the  lower  country  and  decided  to  remain  in  Minneapolis, 
those  who  had  a  good  deal  of  masonry  work  found  no  difii- 
culty  in  its  completion.  Mr.  Tabour  is  still  an  honored 
citizen  of  Minneapolis. 

Hon.  Lewis  Harrington,  of  Hutchinson,  came  to  Minne- 
apolis at  this  time,  and  immediately  occupied  a  prominent 
position  in  the  engineering  requirements  of  the  county.  It 
will  be  readily  seen  that  the  village  was  fortunate  in  the  high 
class  of  immigration  in  the  early  summer  of  1855. 

AN   ABOLITION   CONVENTION   CREATES  A   FLURRY. 

For  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July  a  committee,  of 
which  W.  D.  Babbitt  was  chairman,  secured  the  loan  of  a 
cannon  from  the  commanding  officer  at  Fort  Snelling,  which 
was  used  at  the  opening  of  an  abolition  convention  held  here 
on  that  day.  This  circumstance  created  quite  an  excitement 
in  the  community,  and  angered  the  military  authorities  at 
Fort  Snelling.  The  gun  was,  however,  used  previous  to 
the  meeting  in  welcoming  the  day  which  the  members  of  all 
political  parties  were  celebrating.     This  fact  coming  to  the 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  273 

attention  of  the  oonimanding  officer,  ai)i)oase(l  his  wrath  at 
what  he  considered  a  misuse  of  it  at  the  abolition  meeting. 
There  was  much  comment  in  the  papers  in  relation  to  the 
atfair.  Major  Sherman,  and  Captain  Bragg  of  Bneua  Vista 
memory,  were  stationed  at  Fort  Snelling  at  this  time. 

On  the  6th  of  July  a  meeting  of  the  settlers  on  the  late 
reservation  was  lu'ld  for  the  ])iirpose  of  tendering  a  dinner  to 
Hon.  H.  M.  lUce  for  his-  great  service  in  aiding  the  i)assage 
of  the  law  through  congress  which  secured  them  their  homes. 
A  committee  of  arrangements  ccmsisting  of  E.  P.  Russell, 
W.  A.  Hotchkiss,  D.  M.  Hanson,  8.  Hidden,  Edward  Murijhy, 
Thomas  McBurney,  B.  F.  Baker,  Geo.  E,  Huy,  John  Jackins 
and  John  H.  Stevens,  was  appointed  for  the  occasion.  Mr. 
Rice  declined  the  invitation  in  a  letter  to  John  H.  Stevens, 
saying  that  he  only  performed  his  duty,  and  the  result  was  as 
gratifying  to  him  as  it  was  beneficial  to  them. 

DISTINGUISHED    VISITOHS. 

Hon.  Charles  Sumner,  the  distinguished  member  of  the 
United  States  senate,  visited  Minneapolis  on  the  10th  of  July. 
He  was  surprised  at  the  beauty  and  growth  of  the  j)lace. 
From  that  time,  during  his  long  service  in  the  senate,  he  was 
a  warm  friend  of  Minneapolis,  and  whenever  national  legis- 
lation was  recpiired  for  the  benefit  of  the  village  or  city,  he 
lent  a  helping  hand  in  securing  the  favorable  action  of  the 
senate. 

Hon.  Edson  B.  Olds,  member  of  congress  from  Ohio,  the 
father  of  our  register  of  the  U.  S.  land-office,  also  visited 
Minneapolis  early  in  July. 

There  was  considerable  feeling  in  regard  to  the  non-action 
of  the  commissioners  appointed  by  the  government  for  laying 
out  and  establishing  the  military  road  from  the  west  bank 
of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  to  Fort  Ridgoly.  The  govern- 
ment had  granted  five  tKousand  dollars  to  aid  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  road  after  it  was  established  by  the  commis- 
sioners. As  one  of  the  commissioners  I  had  always  been 
ready  to  perform  the  duty  assigned  me,  but  there  were  two 
others,  and  their  presence  could  not  be  obtained  to  act  with 
me.  The  chief  of  the  corps  of  topographical  engineers  in  the 
territory.  Gen.  J.  H.  Simpson,  could  not  apply  the  money 
because  there  had  been  no  legal  road  established.    Determined 


274  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

that  tlie  money  should  not  be  returned  to  the  United  States 
treasury,  steps  were  taken  at  this  time  to  complete  the  sur- 
vey o£  the  road.  By  this  action  a  pretty  good  highway  was 
established  from  the  Falls  to  the  east  bank  of  the  Minnesota 
river,  upon  which  Fort  Eidgely  was  built.  This  was  the  only 
road  from  Minneapolis  that  ever  received  aid  from  the  gene- 
ral government ;  all  the  others  were  built  by  the  county  or 
by  private  subscriptions  of  the  people  immediately  interested 
in  them.  Of  course  in  the  early  days  the  counties  had  no 
money  to  expend  •  on  the  public  highways,  and  as  a  conse- 
quence they  were  mostly  opened  and  worked  by  subscriptions 
until  such  times  as  a  poll  and  property  road-tax  was  author- 
ized by  the  legislature.  Fortunately,  as  a  general  rule,  it  did 
not  require  any  very  large  sums  of  money  to  make  the  roads 
passable.     The  big-woods  was  an  exception,  however. 

It  was  now  evident  that  the  stock  in  the  suspension-bridge 
would  pay  a  good  dividend,  for  the  first  month's  receipts 
amounted  to  fourteen  hundred  and  eighty-two  dollars. 

A  severe  storm  swept  over  this  part  of  the  territory  on 
August  1st.  Several  houses  in  Minneapolis  were  damaged, 
and  the  j^ioneer  merchant  of  the  place,  Thomas  Chambers, 
suffered  severely. 

Dr.  C.  L.  Anderson,  of  St.  Anthony,  commenced,  August 
1st,  the  erection  of  a  brick  residence  on  Third  street  south, 
and  Dr.  J.  S.  Elliott's  elegant  brick  building  was  finished. 
The  latter  was  by  all  odds  the  finest  residence  in  the  place. 

The  whigs  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony 
were  considerably  surprised  that  the  St.  Anthony  Express, 
heretofore  a  strong  whig  paper,  had  become  a  democratic 
sheet.  The  announcement  was  made  in  the  first  issue  of  that 
paper  in  August. 

FIRST  USE  OF  GOVERNOR  STRVEN's  ROUTE. 

Malcom  Clark,  a  distinguished  trader  among  the  Blackfeet 
Indians,  on  the  extreme  upper  Missouri  river,  utilized  Gov. 
Steven's  route  through  the  northwest  by  leaving  Sauk  Eapids 
with  a  train  of  carts  loaded  with  merchandise,  bound  for  his 
trading-post  in  the  Rocky  mountains.  Mr.  Clark  was  the 
first  man  from  the  Eockies  to  use  the  road  surveyed  by  Gov. 
Stevens,  and  he  found  it  a  good  one.     He  started  in  August. 

Eev.  Mr.  Creighton,  a  distinguished  divine,  from  Monti- 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  275 

cello,  was  engaged  with  resident  ministers  at  the  Falls,  in 
delivering  temperance  addresses  during  August.  Up  to  this 
period,  and  for  more  than  a  year  afterwards,  there  had  been 
no  saloons  in  Minneapolis,  and  the  pastors  of  the  several 
churches,  backed  by  a  large  majority  of  the  citizens,  were 
determined  there  should  be  none  in  the  future.  Mr.  Creigh- 
ton  was  a  brother  of  Col.  AVm.  Creighton  who,  with  Prof.  E. 
W.  Merrill  and  others,  were  the  founders  of  Monticello,  and 
were  prominent  in  the  territorial  years. 

Dr.  Geo.  H.  Keith  arrived  in  Minneapolis  during  the  late 
summer  and  made  it  his  permanent  home.  He  became  a 
leading  citizen  of  the  place  ;  represented  the  county  in  the 
legislature  ;  occupied  a  high  military  position  during  the  war, 
and  was  postmaster  of  the  city  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

At  a  joint  meeting  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Terri- 
torial and  Hennei;in  county  agricultural  societies,  held  in 
Minneapolis  September  8th,  it  was  determined  that  the  two 
societies  should  join  for  the  i^urpose  of  holding  a  fair  on 
Wednesday  and  Thursday,  October  17th  and  18th. 

The  first  drug-store  in  Minneapolis,  and  a  good  one,  was 
opened  on  Helen  street,  in  September,  by  Savory  &  Horton. 

BEGINNING   OF   A   REPUBLICAN   RULE. 

In  politics  for  the  first  time  the  issue  was  between  the 
democrats  and  republicans.  The  whigs  did  not  put  a  ticket 
in  the  field.  After  the  election  there  appeared  to  have  been 
a  Know-Nothing  ticket,  but  it  received  only  eighteen  votes  in 
the  county.  A  large  majority  of  the  whigs  voted  the  repub- 
lican ticket.  The  republicans  had  a  majority  of  about  twenty 
votes.  The  whole  number  of  votes  polled  in  the  county  was 
nineteen  hundred  and  fifty-five.  Two  of  the  republican  can- 
didates for  the  house  of  representatives  from  Hennepin  county, 
Jas.  F.  Bradley  and  Thomas  Pierce,  were  elected,  as  was 
Arba  Cleveland  of  Carver  county.  J.  B.  Bassett  was  the 
republican  candidate  for  the  council.  He  carried  the  county, 
but  his  competitor,  Hon.  D.  M.  Hanson,  received  a  sufficient 
majority  in  Carver  county,  which  belonged  to  the  same  legis- 
lative district,  to  overcome  Mr.  Bassett's  majority  in  Henne- 
pin. Alexander  Gould  was  elected  county  commissioner. 
Allen  Harmon  was  elected  treasurer  by  ten  votes  over  J.  S. 
Johnson,  democrat ;  Lewis  Harrington,  county  surveyor  ;  and 


276  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

N.  Jenkins  and  S.  Coburn,  assessors.  There  was  a  tie  vote 
between  Horace  H.  Shepley  and  J.-  Bohanan  for  the  same 
office.  From  the  time  of  the  first  organization  of  the  repub- 
lican party  in  Hennepin  county  in  1855  to  the  present,  as  a 
general  rule,  the  county  has  been  republican. 

The  second  annual  fair  of  Hennepin  county  was  held  on 
the  17th  and  18tli  of  October,  under  the  patronage  of  the 
territorial  society.  It  was  a  great  success.  Many  of  the 
counties  in  the  territory  were  represented.  The  annual 
address  was  delivered  by  Hon.  Martin  McLeod.  The  occa- 
sion brought  the  largest  concourse  of  people  that  had  ever 
gathered  in  the  territory.  For  the  first  time  in  the  history 
of  the  upper  Mississippi  valley  the  dairy  was  represented  by 
a  good  display  of  cheese,  the  product  of  Mrs.  J.  B.  Bassett. 
The  chairmen  of  the  different  department  committees  were 
Governor  Ramsey  of  St.  Paul,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Selby  of  St.  Paul, 
Captain  Hoi  combe  of  Washington  county  ;  N.  E.  Stoddard, 
Col.  E.  Case,  Charles  Hoag,  Franklin  Steele,  W.  A.  Hotch- 
kiss,  and  Mrs.  B.  E.  Messer,  of  Hennepin  county.  At  the 
close  of  the  fair  the  following  ofiicers  of  the  Hennepin  county 
agricultural  society  were  elected  for  the  year  :  John  H. 
Stevens,  president  ;  Isaac  I.  Lewis,  secretary  ;  Dr.  A.  E. 
Ames,  corresponding  secretary  ;  Col.  '  E.  Case,  treasurer  ; 
N.  E.  Stoddard,  Asa  Keith,  Allen  Harmon,  Martin  McLeod, 
and  Norman  Jenkins,  executive  committee. 

BUSINESS   HOUSES  IN  MINNEAPOLIS  AT  THE  CLOSE   OF  THE  YEAR. 

Following  is  a  correct  list  of  the  business  houses  in  Min- 
neapolis in  the  fall  of  1855  :  Stores — Thomas  Chambers, 
Lewis  &  Edwards,  Jackins  &  Wright,  S.  Hidden,  J.  H. 
Spear  &  Co.,  Tuffts,  Reynolds  &  Whittemore,  Joseph  LeDuc, 
J.  E.  Fullerton,  L.  C.  Elfelt,  A.  F.  McGhee,  Davie  &  Calef, 
and  T,  L.  Bibbins.  Drug-stores — Savory  &  Horton,  and  S. 
S.  Crowell.  Book-store— John  M.  Anderson.  Watches  and 
jewelry — E.  F.  Crain  and  J.  Farrant.  Painters — E.  A.  Smith, 
B.  E.  Messer  and  C.  Rummelsburgh.  Carriage-  and  sleigh- 
makers — J.  F.  Bradley  and  James  B.  Hunt.  Blacksmiths — 
I.  L.  Penny,  E.  Jordon  and  Brown  &  Co.  Boots  and  shoes — 
John  Wensinger,  J.  J.  Kennedy  John  French  and  Mr.  Loud. 
Gun-  and  locksmith — J.  Morrison.  Tailor — F.  Wilkin- 
son,    Bakery — Berkman   &  Bickford.     Harness-maker — W. 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  277 

G.  Miiri)liy.  Laiul-ageiits-  Carlos  AVilcox,  R.  Allison,  Sny- 
der tfe  McFarlane  and  W.  P.  Curtis.  Bankers — Snyder  <t 
McFarlane  and  C.  H.  Pettit.  Surveyors  and  civil  engineers — 
Lewis  Harrin;.;ft<)n,  C.  W.  Christmas  and  H.  C.  Smith.  Law- 
yers— Cornell  it  Hanson,  Atwater  &  Jones,  AV.  J.  Parsons  and 
H.  B.  Hancock.  Physicians — Drs.  Ames,  Anderson,  Leonard, 
AVheelock  and  Bouse.  Newspaper — Northwestern  Democrat, 
W.  A.  Hotchkiss,  editor  and  i)roj)rietor.  Hotel  Minneapo- 
lis House,  C.  Bushnell,  jjroprietor.  Livery-stables — DeKay 
«fc  Bartholomew  and  J.  Kingsbury.  Dr.  Wheelock  only  re- 
mained a  short  time.     He  went  to  Clearwater. 

Up  to  this  time  there  was  only  one  saw-mill  on  the  Minne^ 
apolis  side  of  the  river,  and  no  grist-mill.  There  was,  as  the 
winter  set  in,  tive  organized  churches  :  Presbyterian,  Bev. 
J.  C.  Whitney,  pastor;  Baptist,  Bev.  A.  A.  Bussell,  pastor; 
Bev.  E.  W.  Cressey  and  Bev.  T.  B.  Bogers  had  occasionally 
I>reaclied  before  the  First  Baptist  society  jjrevious  to  the 
arrival  of  Mr.  Bussell ;  Free  Baptist,  Bev.  C.  G.  Ames ; 
Methodist  Episcopal,  Bev.  Mr.  Salisbury,  i^astor  ;  this  gen- 
tleman was  the  first  settled  pastor  over  the  Methodist  church 
in  Minneapolis.  That  denomination  had  no  church  building, 
but  the  meetings  were  held  over  T.  L.  Bibliin's  store  on 
Helen  street  (now  Second  avenue  south).  There  were  only 
two  associations  of  a  charitable  character,  the  Masonic  and 
Odd  Fellow's  organizations. 

It  cannot  be  doubted,  even  in  these  progressive  times,  that 
the  above  was  a  pretty  good  exhibit  for  a  one  year  old  village. 

ST.    ANTHONY    IMPKOVEMENTS. 

The  progress  made  on  the  St.  Anthony  side  was  still  more 
remarkable.  Thomas  E.  Davis,  John  F.  Sanford,  and  Fred 
Gebhard  of  New  York,  had  become  interested  with  Mr. 
Steele  in  St.  Anthony  real  estate,  and  Bichard  Chute  and 
John  S.  Prince  had  also  secured  a  large  interest  in  it. 

Hon.  D.  Morrison  had  now  arrived  in  St.  Anthony  and  had 
secured  the  contract  for  furnishing  all  the  logs  necessary  for 
the  mills.  The  mills  had  been  leased  by  the  proprietors  to 
Messrs.  Lovejoy  S:  Brockway  for  the  year.  New  life  and  new 
energy  had  been  given  to  the  city.  The  home  demand  for 
lumber  had  been  so  great  that  the  mills  were  run  to  their  full 
capacity. 


278  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

David  Edwards  had  built  a  large  stone  stnicture,  three 
stories  high.  The  lower  story  was  for  stores,  the  second  for 
offices,  and  the  third  was  a  commodious  hall.  Mr.  Edwards 
occupied  the  lower  story  with  a  general  assortment  of  goods. 

NEW    BUSINESS    MEN. 

Among  the  new  business  men  for  1855  were  Crandall  <fc  Co., 
D.  M.  Anderson,  M.  M.  Goodwin,  Mrs.  Say  re,  Mrs.  Robin- 
son, Mrs.  J.  H.  Pearl,  Mrs.  Widdigen,  "William  Harmon  & 
Co.,  G.  F.  Cross,  W.  E.  Forster,  Charles  Fish,  J.  Pidding- 
ton,  Orrin  Curtis,  J.  J.  Monell,  Geo.  E.  H.  Day,  B.  Thomp- 
son, J.  &  G.  H.  Hawes  &  Co.,  Healy  &  Bohan,  J.  Good,  S. 
Kohle,  House  &  Bailey,  C.  Johnson  &  Co.,  E.  L.  Hemple  & 
Co.,  Geo.  Thurber,  and  J.  H.  Kelley.  Dan  Stimson,  Moses 
Hayes,  Geo.  A.  Nash,  N.  H.  Hemiup  &  Co.,  L.  G.  Johnson  & 
Co.,  Eichard  Martin,  Tracey  &  Farnham,  Dr.  C.  W.  Le 
Boutillier,,  John  Bourgeois,  Bassett  &  Leaming,  and  J.  W. 
Monell,  had  all  got  nicely  under  way  in  business  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  new  year. 

John  S.  Pillsbury  selected  St.  Anthony  for  his  home  this 
year.  Not  only  the  citizens  of  Minneajjolis,  but  the  people  of 
the  entire  state,  are  greatly  indebted  to  him  for  services  in 
a  public  and  in  a  private  capacity. 

H.  G.  O.  Morrison  also  settled  in  St.  Anthony  in  1855. 
He  too  was  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  place. 

SCHOOLS,    CHURCHES   AND    SOCIETIES. 

The  greatest  blessing  to  any  community,  and  more  espec- 
ially to  all  new  settlements — churches,  schools,  and  benevolent 
societies — were  unusually  prosperous  in  St.  Anthony  during 
1855.  Rev.  Mr.  Nelson  was  the  resident  Methodist  minister. 
There  were  no  changes  in  the  pastors  of  the  other  churches. 
The  first  officers  in  the  Holy  Trinity  church,  J.  S.  Chamber- 
lain, rector,  were  Henry  T.  Welles  and  William  Spoouer, 
wardens  ;  and  J.  B.  Gilbert  and  Geo.  D.  Bowman,  vestrymen. 
Seth  Barnes  became  the  j^ermanent  pastor  of  the  Universalist 
church.  St.  Mary's  school  for  young  ladies,  under  the  direct 
superintendency  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Chamberlain,  had  a  large 
number  of  scholars.  Miss  Mary  L.  Knight,  Miss  Kennedy, 
and  Miss  Thompson,  were  teachers  in  the  popular  institution. 
There  w^ere  select  schools  opened  in  St.  Anthony  this  year — 
one  of  great  jjopularity  by  Prof.   D.  S.  B.  Johnson,  in  the 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    I'KOrLK.  279 

academy  Iniildiii^  where  the  higher  branches  of  mathematics, 
natural  sciences,  and  ancient  and  modern  hmgua^es,  were 
taught.  Professor  Johnson  became  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent citizens  in  St.  Anthony,  and  for  years  with  great  alnlity 
edited  tlie  Express.  He  has  long  been  one  of  the  most  re- 
spected citizens  of  St.  Paul. 

Miss  Lucy  D.  Holman  taught  a  select  school  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  Congregational  church,  .which  was  well  jmtron- 
i/ed.  The  two  district  schools  were  overflowing  with  scholars. 
Hon.  John  13.  Giltillan,  our  late  member  of  congress,  was  the 
principal  of  one  of  them.  Prosperity  delighted  to  attend 
upon  the  after  life  of  most  of  the  early  teachers  in  St. 
Anthony.  The, ladies  were  liapi)y  in  their  married  life. 
Mrs.  Thomas  Gardiner  (then  Miss  Knight)  is  now  the  only 
resident  in  Minneapolis  of  those  pioneer  female  teachers. 

The  subject  of  edl^cation  was  a  matter  of  deep  concern  to 
the  early  settlers  of  Minneapolis,  and  it  was  taken  hold  of  by 
the  people  in  a  most  commendable  way.  And  like  efforts 
were  general  throughout  Minnesota.  The  annual  accessions 
to  the  population  were  of  the  most  reliable,  exterprising  and 
desirable  kind.  Among  them  were  men  of  capital  and  very 
enlightened  views.  The  foundation  of  the  magnificent  sys  - 
tem  of  union  schools  for  which  modern  Minneapolis  is  so 
celebrated  was  really  laid  in  1855,  at  a  school  meeting  held  in 
the  largest  hall  in  the  village ,  on  November  28th.  Nearly 
every  resident  in  the  village  was  in  attendance.  John  H. 
Stevens,  F.  P.  E.  Cornell,  and  J.  N.  Barber,  were  elected 
trustees,  and  Charles  Hoag,  P.  P.  Pussell,  and  Dr.  H. 
Fletcher,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  and  advise 
with  the  trustees  in  the  selection  and  i)urchase  of  a  site  for 
a  school-house.  On  motion  of  Mr.  Cornell  the  legislature 
was  petitioned  to  authorize  the  trustees  to  levy  a  tax  for  ten 
thousand  dollars  for  the  purchase  of  a  lot,  and  to  build  a 
house  on  it.  This  movement  eventually  secured  the  old 
Washington  school-house  grounds,  which  have  so  recently 
been  transferred  to  the  county,  upon  which  the  court-house 
is  being  built. 

The  Royal  and  Select  Masons  of  the  territor^^  received  a 
dispensation,  late  in  November,  from  the  proper  authorities 
in  New  York,  to  establish  a  council  in  St.  Paul.     The  charter 


280  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

members  were  A.  T.  C.  Pearson,  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  John  H. 
Stevens,  Col.  E.  Case,  Geo.  A.  Camp,  Thomas  Lombarde,  and 
William  Lyon.  This  was  the  first  charter  for  a  council 
granted  in  Minnesota. 

The  celebrated  brothers,  the  Hutchinson  family,  consisting 
of  Judson,  John,  and  Asa,  visited  Minnesota  for  the  first 
time  this  late  fall.  They  were  anxious  to  become  interested 
in  a  new  town-site.  They  were  taken  through  the  woods  by 
way  of  Glencoe,  to  the  Hassan  river,  by  a  party  of  Minneap- 
olis friends.  They  were  so  charmed  with  the  country  that, 
in  connection  with  others,  they  laid  out  and  platted  Hutchin- 
son. The  Hutchinsons  became  prominent  in  Central  Minne- 
sota. They  are  all  gone  now,  except  John,  but  they  left  a 
noble  work  which  will  perpetuate  their  memory. 

FIRST   MORTGAGE   FORECLOSURE   IN  .MINNEAPOLIS. 

On  the  29th  day  of  December  the  first  advertisement 
appeared  for  the  first  mortgage  foreclosure  in  Hennepin 
county.  Levi  Brown  was  the  mortgagee;  C.  H.  Elliott,  and 
I.  C.  Penney,  mortgagors.  The  property  to  be  foreclosed 
was  lot  ten  in  block  forty  in  the  original  plat  of  the  town  of 
Minneapolis.  Atwater  &  Jones  were  the  attorneys.  The 
wdiole  lot,  and  all  the  improvements  on  it,  was  sold  for  two 
hundred  dollars.  It  is  worth  to-day  more  than  two  hundred 
thousand,  without  the  buildings.  Property  has  come  up 
Bome  since  them. 

FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  CORCORAN  TOWNSHIP. 
Every  township  in  Hennepin  county  had  been  more  or  less 
occupied  by  settlers  previous  to  1855,  except  Corcoran.  Up 
to  that  year  it  had  remained  an  unbroken  wilderness. 
Though  one  of  the  best  agricultural  towns  in  the  county,  it 
was  the  last  one  settled.  Li  the  spring  of  this  year  Benj. 
Pounder,  who  was  prospecting  for  a  claim  on  government 
land,  ventured  into  the  big-woods  and  selected  a  quarter- 
section  near  the  town-line.  He  had  scarcely  secured  the  logs 
for  the  erection  of  his  cabin  before  he  was  followed  by  Pat- 
rick B.  Corcoran  and  Morris  Ryan,  who  made  claims  cind 
commenced  clearing  land  for  farms.  The  same  season  Joseph 
Dejardiiis,  Isnac  Bai-tlett,  John  McDonnell,  Francis  Morin, 
Fred  Peinking,  Fred  Schuette,  and  one  or  two  other  farmers, 
occupied  land  ;  so  by  the  time  winter  set  in  there  was  quite 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND    IIS    PEOPLE.  281 

a  colony  in  tlie   town.     All    the  towns    in  Hennepin  county 
were  i)rosi)erons  during  1SS5.     Eden  Prairie  lost  its  pioneer 
this  year  in  the  death  of  N.  Abbott. 
CHARACTER    OF    THE    FIRST    SaTTLERS    IN    HENNEPIN   COUNTY. 

There  were  at  the  time  of  the  completion  of  the  census 
this  year,  in  Hennepin  county,  1,128  families,  which  made  a 
pojmlation  of  4,171,  less  than  four  persons  to  each  family. 
The  question  is  often  asked  me,  "By  what  class  of  persims 
was  Hennejnn  county  settled  ?"  I  can  answer  that  at  the 
time  alluded  to,  that  is,  when  the  census  was  taken  in  1855, 
the  birthplace  of  the  li(>ad  of  each  family  was  ascertained, 
and  there  were  of  American  birth  among  the  pioneers  790,  and 
of  foreign  birth  338,  showing  452  more  heads  of  families  that 
were  American  than  thei-e  were  foreigners  ;  but  we  were  not 
unmindful  of  the  fact  that  the  birthplace  of  a  man  did  not 
I)rove  or  disprove  his  merit.  But  it  was  a  matter  of  interest 
to  all,  and  served  to  attract  to  each  settlement  like  national- 
ities and  kindred  spirits,  whether  they  were  Irish,  French, 
Germans  or  Americans  ;  and  it  is  doubtful  if  any  county 
could  show  a  more  intelligent  and  industrious  people  than 
the  iirst  settlers  in  Hennepin  county.  " 

The  valuation  of  taxable  property  had  increased  from 
S54,363  in  1853,  to  s?157,000  in  1854,  and  !S505,781  in  1855  ; 
showing  a  wonderful  increase  of  wealth  added  to  the  county 
in  a  short  period. 


CHAPTER  XXXYIII. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  EIGHTEEN  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY-SIX. 

Ou  Wednesday  the  second  day  or  Januaiy  the  Minnesota 
State  Agricultural  Society  held  its  annual  meeting  in  St.  Paul. 
Governor  Bamsey  was  elected  president.  The  vice-presidents 
were  John  H.  Stevens  of  Hennepin^  John  H.  Hartenbower 
of  Olmstead,  Clarke  W.  Thompson  of  Houston,  Samuel  Hull 
of  Fillmore,  Arba  Cleveland  of  Carver,  William  Fowler  of 
Washington,  General  James  Shields  of  Rice,  John  Wakefield 
of  Scott,  Prof.  E.  W.  Merrill  of  Wright,  Lewis  Stone  of  Ben- 
ton, N.  M.  Thompson  of  Dakota,  William  Freeborn  of  Good- 
hue,~  C.  F.  Buck  of  Winona,  A.  F.  De  LaVergne  of  LeSueur, 
Chas.  E.  Flandreau  of  Nicollet,  and  B.  F.  Hoyt  of  Ramsey. 
Treasurer,  J.  AY.  Selby  of  St.  Paul.  Secretary,  Dr.  A.  E. 
Ames  of  MinneajDolis.  Executive  Committee,  Charles  Hoag, 
Henry  H.  Sibley,  N.  E.  Larpenteur,  L.  M.  Ford,  and  Wm.  H. 
Nobles.  It  was  voted  that  the  first  annual  fair  be  held  in 
Minneapolis  in  October,  at  which  time  the  election  of  officers 
for  1857  should  be  had.  Judge  Norton  H.  Hemiup  was 
appointed  postmaster  of  St.  Anthony  early  in  January,  in 
place  of  Hon.  Lucius  C.  Walker. 

BUFFALOES  AT  THE  HEAD  OF  SAUK    RIVER. 

Two  very  large  herds  of  buffaloes  came  down  from  the 
northwest,  late  in  the  fall,  and  at  the  beginning  of  January 
were  grazing  near  the  head  of  Sauk  river,  some  fifty  miles 
west  of  St.  Cloud,  and  they  remained  in  that  vicinity  for 
several  months.  This  was  the  last  ai)pearance  of  these  ani- 
mals in  the  Sauk  river  country. 

The  United  States  htnd-office  was  (>i)ened  in  Minneapolis 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  283 

on  the  9th  of  October,  1854  There  had  been  paid  into  the 
office  by  the  settlers  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  for  their 
homes,  mostly  in  Hennepin  county,  up  to  January  1st,  1856, 
the  large  sum  of  $199,770  98.  The  number  of  acres  entered 
was  150,071.  To  this  should  be  added  10,700  acres  covered 
with  military  land-warrants  ;  making  the  whole  number  of 
acres  entered  at  the  office  since  the  establishment  of  the  office 
up  to  January  1st,  1856,  160,831.  The  number  of  preemp- 
tions allowed  was  a  little  less  than  1,000.  The  parties  resid- 
ing at  the  Falls  who  entered  the  largest  amoiint  of  land  were 
Carlos  Wilcox,  who  secured  about  2,000  acres  ;  H.  G.  O. 
Morrison  and  Richard  Chute,  jointly  a  little  over  1,500  acres. 
All  the  rest  of  the  land  went  into  the  hands  of  farmers,  actual 
tillers  of  the  soil  ;  industrious,  thrifty,  moral  and  intelligent. 
January  was  exceedingly  cold,  but  this  did  not  prevent  the 
people  of  St.  Anthony  and  Minneapolis  from  attending 
lyceums,  dancing-parties,  and  amusements  generally. 
ST.  ANTHONY  ANNEXED  TO  HENNEPIN  COUNTY. 

The  legislature  passed  an  act  annexing  St.  Anthony  to 
Hennepin  county.  The  same  bill  contained  provisions  to 
locate  the  county  buildings  in  the  lower  town.  No  measures 
of  a  public  character  had  ever  created  so  much  excitement  in 
this  communit}',  and  it  was  many  years  l)efore  the  bitterness 
engendered  ceased. 

Minneapolis  received,  during  the  winter,  several  citizens 
Mdio  became  prominent,  in  the  i)ersons  of  Hon.  Delano  T. 
Smith,  and  Hon.  David  Morgan,  and  others,  who  added 
greatly  to  the  industries  of  the  city. 

The  sad  news  was  received  that  Dr.  F.  W.  Ripley,  a  young 
physician  of  unusual  merit,  was  frozen  to  death  in  a  storm 
while  making  a  journey  from  Glencoe  to  Forest  City.  He 
was  accompanied  by  Mr.  John  McClelland  of  Glencoe,  whose 
feet  were  frozen  so  severely  as  to  render  amputution  neces- 
sary above  the  knees.  Dr.  Ripley  had  made  his  home  in  the 
family  of  Hon.  D.  M.  Hanson  in  this  city.  The  information 
of  Dr.  Ripley's  fate  was  received  in  Minneapolis  on  the  same 
day  that  Mr.  Hanson  died.  A  citizen  of  Hutchinson,  a  Mr. 
Collier,  perished  in  the  same  storm. 

As  spring  a})proached  the  improvements  in  St.  Anthony 
and  Minneapolis  were  beyond  all  precedent.     Activity  and 


284  .PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

progress  characterized  both  jjlaces.  Over  fifty  buildings  were 
in  process  of  erection  in  Minneapolis,  and  as  many  more  in 
St.  Anthony.  The  prosperous  season  commencing  so  early, 
plainly  indicated  that  Minneapolis  at  least  would  double  in 
population  and  improvements  before  the  close- of  navigation 
in  the  fall  of  1856. 

The  municipal  election  m  St.  Anthony  resulted  in  the 
election  of  Alvaran  Allen  for  Mayor.  The  contest  was  a 
spirited  one.  Mr.  Allen  being  a  thorough  business  man, 
made  a  good  Mayor. 

The  average  value  of  lots  in  Minneapolis,  in  the  spring  of 
this  year,  was  only  five  dollars  each.  There  were  about 
two  thousand  of  them,  which  added  ten  thousand  dollars  to 
the  valuation  of  taxable  proj^erty  in  the  city. 

Among  the  improvements  commenced  were  those  of  Col. 
Cyrus  Aldrich,  Sidney  Smith,  and  William  Garland,  each  one 
building  fine  residences ;  while  Ivory  D.  Woodman,  and 
several  others,  erected  fine  business  blocks. 

Minnehaha  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  1  was  organ- 
ized this  spring.  A.  F.  McGhee  was  elected  foreman,  and 
Wm.  A.  Todd,  secretary.  This  was  the  first  fire  organization 
in  Minneapolis,  and  it  was  a  good  one. 

Carlos  Wilcox  resigned  the  postmastership,  and  Dr.  A.  E. 
Ames  was  appointed  in  his  stead.  Two  new  saw-mills  were 
added  to  the  industries  at  the  Falls,  that  of  D.  W.  Marr  on 
the  St.  Anthony  side,  and  that  of  Pomeroy,  Bates  and  Co.  on 
the  west  side."  Both  were  steam  mills.  J.  M.  Winslow  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  large  hotel  in  St.  Anthony.  The 
Minneapolis  Water-power  Improvement  Company  was  organ- 
ized May  20th,  Hon.  Bobert  Smith  president,  D.  Morrison 
treasurer,  Geo.  E.  Huy  secretary,  with  Messrs.  B.  Smith,  D. 
Morrison,  G.  K.  Swift,  Geo.  E.  Huy,  B.  P.  Bussell,  Dr.  J.  S. 
Elliott,  and  J.  S.  Newton,  directors.  The  capital  stock  was 
-  $60,000.  From  this  small  beginning  the  present  mighty  and 
well-regulated  system  of  controlling  the  vast  water-power  of 
the  Falls  has  matured.  Only  one  of  the  original  incorpora- 
tors is  now  connected  with  it,  Hon.  D.  Morrison,  and  he 
owns  much  more  than  his  original  interest  in  the  property. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Begents  of  the  State  Univer- 
sity, on  the  26th  of  May,  Franklin  Steele,  president,  in  the 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  285 

chair,  on  motion  of  Hon.  H.  H.  Sibiey,  seconded  by  John  H. 
Stevens,  it  was  resolved  that  bonds  be  issued  for  fifteen 
thousand  dollars  in  sums  of  not  less  than  one  thousand  dollars 
each,  with  interest  not  to  exceed  twelve  i)er  cent  jjer  annum, 
to  be  u.sed  for  the  erection  of  Iraildinys,  and  to  jjurchase  more 
land  adjoining  the  University  site.  The  building  committee 
consisting  of  Judge  Meeker,  John  H.  Stevens,  S.  Nelson,  A. 
M.  Fridley,  and  Isaac  Atwater,  were  instructed  to  solicit 
plans  for  the  building.  The  Board  of  Regents  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  in  May,  185G,  were  Franklin  Steele 
president.  Fort  Snelling  ;  Ex-Governor  Eamsey,  Hon.  H.  M. 
Eice,  and  Rev.  J.  G.  Rheildaffer,  St.  Paul  ;  John  H.  Stevens 
and  Isaac  Atwater,  Minneapolis  ;  Judge  B.  B.  Meeker,  and 
A.  M.  Fridley,  St.  Anthony  ;  Hon.  A.  Van  Vorhis,  Socrates 
Nelson,  and  jNIahalon  Black,  Stillwater,  and  H.  H.  Sibley  of 
Mendota.  This  -was  the  commencement  of  the  steps  taken  to 
erect  the  buildings  necessary  for  the  University. 

On  the   20th   day  of  May  the   site   for  the  union  school- 
house  of  Minneajiolis  was  selected  by  the  trustees  and  voters. 
It  was   the   northwest  half  of  block  77.     The  purchase  was 
made  from  W.   D.   Babbett  for  two  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars.     In  1887  this  same  ground  was  sold  to  the  county  to 
be   occupied,  with  the  other  half   of   the   block,    by   county 
buildings,  for  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  not 
counting  the  school  building  on  it.     Something  of  an  increase 
in  value  during  the  thirty-one  years.     The  trustees  immedi- 
ately i^roceeded  to  erect  a  double  brick  school-house  which, 
when  completed,  was  the  best  building  of  the  kind  north  of 
St.    Louis.     It  was  destroyed   by  fire   in   1864.     In  this  old 
building  the  celebrated  Professor  Stone  for  years  presided, 
and  graduated  as  good  scholars  as  any  teacher  in  the  west. 
Many  of   our   i)resent   best  business  men  were  instructed  in 
that  old  house,  such  as   Clinton  Morrison,  Ira  Murphy,  the 
Ames  boys,  the  Hedderleys,  and  many  others.     Nor  should 
we  neglect   to  mention   that    many  of  the  daughters  of   the 
pioneers  of  Minneapolis,  mIio  are  now  the  first  ladies  of  the 
city,  and  proud  mothers   of  interesting  children,  were  edu- 
cated under  the  luimble  roof  of  that  old  school-house.     This 
was  the  first  union  school  in  Minnesota  and   the  memory  of 
it  and  its  first  principal,  is  fondly  cherished  by  the  hundreds 


286  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

who  were  educated  there,  as  well  as  by  their  parents  and 
guardians.  More  than  a  score  of  stately  school  edifices  at 
this  time  adorn  Minneapolis,  for  the  education  of  some  eight- 
een thousand  children,  but  there  was  more  pride  in  the  first 
union  school-house,  humble  as  it  was,  than  in  any  that  have 
been  built  since. 

As  a  matter  of  record,  I  will  mention  that  the  13th  of  June 

1856   was  the  coldest  day  for  the  season  of  the  vear  ever 

known  by  the  pioneers.     Stoves  were  replaced  and  fires  built. 

Cold  as  was  the  season,  there  was  a  good  crop  in  the  territory. 

MURDERS  AND   OUTRAGES. 

Many  crimes  were  committed  in  June.  On  the  11th  a 
young  married  woman,  Mrs.  Mary  Jane  Hathaway,  wnfe  of 
John  A.  Hathaway,  was  murdered  at  their  home  on  Crow 
river,  in  what  is  now  Hassan  township.  The  family  had 
recently  settled  on  their  claim.  The  unfortunate  lady  was 
shot  through  the  head  with  a  pistol.  Her  little  child,  about 
fourteen  months  old,  was  found  playing  in  its  mother's  blood. 
Every  effort  was  made  to  discover  the  murderer,  but  to  this 
day  the  brutal  fellow  seems  to  have  escaped  punishment. 
Mrs.  Hathaway  was  unusually  respected  by  the  few  settlers 
at  that  time  on  Crow  river.  On  the  12th,  Susan,  a  Dakota 
girl,  aged  about  ten  years,  an  adopted  daughter  of  M.  S. 
"Whallen  of  Oak  Grove,  while  her  foster-mother,  a  neighbor, 
Mrs.  Ames,  and  three  little  children,  one  of  whom  was  Susan, 
were  in  the  sitting-room,  several  Chippewa  Indians  entered, 
threw  little  Susan  out  of  the  door,  cut  her  throat,  scalped  her, 
and  fled  before  the  men  who  were  near  by  could  reach  the 
house.  This  Dakota  girl  had  been  given  to  Dr.  Williamson 
by  her  parents  at  Kaposia,  when  she  was  five  or  six  years  old. 
She  had  lost  the  little  knowledge  she  once  had  of  her  native 
language,  and  only  her  marked  Indian  features  remained  to 
indicate  her  origin.  Mr.  Pond,  of  blessed  memory,  her  neigh- 
bor and  pastor,  saw  in  her  evidence  of  Christianity.  Mrs. 
Whallen,  under  whose  care  she  was  making  good  progress  in 
all  that  was  desirable  to  prepare  her  for  iisefulness  and  hap- 
piness here  and  hereafter,  loved  her  as  a  daughter.  Two 
other  residents  of  Hennepin  county  had  recently  met  violent 
deaths,  and  so  strong  was  the  feeling  of  the  citizens  of  the 
county  in  regard  to  these  brutal  murders,  that  a  mass  meet- 


OF    MINNESOTA  AND    ITS    TEOPLE.  287 

ing  of  citizens  was  held  on  June  17th,  in  Barber's  hall,  to 
take  energetic  action  to  punish  the  perpetrator.  Rev.  A.  A. 
Russell  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames  was 
appointed  secretary.  John  H.  Stevens,  Isaac  Brown,  Samuel 
Hidden,  Dr.  H.  Fletcher,  and  J.  H.  Si)ear,  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  express  the  demands  of  justice  in  these  trying 
events  which  have  clouded  the  good  name  of  the  county. 
John  H.  Stevens  reported  the  following,  which  was  unani- 
mously adopted  : 

"  This  county,  for  the  first  time  in  its  history  has,  during 
"  the  past  week,  been  visited  with  wilful  and  malicious  mur- 
"  ders,  attended  by  a  barberous  and  fiendish  si)irit,  which  call 
"  loudly  for  a  decided  expression  of  the  sentiment  of  the 
"  people  ;  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  law-abiding  citizen  and 
"  every  loAer  of  justice,  to  use  his  iitmost  endeavor  to  bring 
"  the  perpetrators  of  these  foul  crimes  to  punishment  ;  that 
"  while  we  cannot  restore  the  lost  lives,  or  blot  out  the  out- 
"  rages  that  have  been  inflicted  upon  individuals,  or  the  wrongs 
"  to  their  families  and  citizens  generally,  we  can  and  will 
"take  measures  to  punish  the  guilty  ;  that  we  have  full  con- 
"  fidence  in  the  power  of  the  civil  authorities  to  impartially 
"  administer  the  laws,  and  to  legally  punish  all  crimes  ;  that 
"we  deprecate  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  individuals  to 
"  resort  to  violence,  or  to  take  the  execution  of  the  law  into 
"  their  own  hands." 

Other  crimes,  of  the  worst  character,  were  committed  at 
this  time.  Though  thirty-three  years  have  passed,  none  of 
the  murderers  have  been  apprehended  or  brought  to  justice, 
and  probably  they  never  will  be.  Mr.  S.  A.  Jewett,  father- 
in-law  of  Dr.  Keith,  and  brother-in-law  of  our  respected 
citizen,  J.  S.  Johnson,  paid  a  high  tribute  of  respect  to  the 
memory  of  one  of  the  murdered  men,  John  P.  Allen.  There 
were  no  other  depredations  committed  upon  the  lives  of 
citizens  of  the  county  for  many  years. 

THE  STATE   FAIR. 

The  executive  committee  of  the  Minnesota  Agricultural 
Society  met  on  the  Ifitli  of  June  and  decided  to  hold  a  fair  in 
the  fall.  Hon.  H.  H.  Sibley,  chairman  of  the  committee, 
headed  the  movement  by  contributing  fifty  dollars  to  the 
enterprise.     Other  members  of  the   society  signed  liberally. 


288  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

Some  twelve  hundred  dollars  was  raised  by  the  citizens  of 
Minneapolis  to  pay  premiums.  Simon  P.  Snyder  was  chosen 
treasurer  in  place  of  J.  W.  Selby,  resigned. 

On  the  24th  of  June  the  Minnesota  Historical  Society  held 
a  meeting  to  lay  the  corner-stone  of  the  society's  hall.  The 
address  on  the  occasion  was  by  Lieut.  Maury,  U.  S.  Navy. 
Unfortunately  the  building  was  never  completed. 

The  contract  for  building  the  court-house  was  let  on  the 
25th  of  June  to  Charles  Clarke,  recently  from  Steuben  county, 
New  York.  Mr.  Clarke  and  his  accomplished  family  were 
valuable  additions  to  Minneapolis.  The  late  Hon.  Charles 
W.  Clarke,  so  prominent  in  agricultural  matters,  was  the  eld- 
est son  of  Mr.  Clarke. 

The  caravan  from  Eed  river  arrived  ahead  of  time  this 
year.     It  was  exceedingly  rich  in  furs  and  pemmican. 

The  Northwestern  Democrat  had,  up  to  this  time,  been  an 
uncompromising  democratic  paper.  The  issue  of  July  5th 
came  out  a  strong  Republican  sheet.  It  created  a  good  deal 
of  excitement.  From  that  period  Major  Hotchkiss,  the  editor 
and  proprietor,  never  swerved  from  what  he  considered  his 
political  duty,  and  for  the  next  year  or  two  made  it  lively  for 
his  old  democratic  friends. 

A  contract  was  let  July  3  to  Messrs.  Stone,  Boomer  &  Boy- 
ington,  to  build  a  new  bridge  over  the  Mississippi,  in  the 
lower  town,  for  $46,000. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  through  some  unknown  agency,  the 
projecting  rock  broke  from  the  precipice  over  which  the 
water  pours  on  the  west  side  of  the  Falls,  which  destroyed  the 
mill-race  and  suspended  all  operations  of  the  saw-mills. 

The  first  real,  live  observance  of  the  Fourth  of  July  by  the 
united  twin  cities  iook  place  in  a  grove  on  Nicollet  Island. 
Free  access  to  the  island  was  generously  granted  by  the 
Bridge  company.  George  E.  H.  Day  presided.  The  Divine 
blessing  was  asked  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Russell.  Dr.  George  H. 
Keith  gave  the  address  ;  followed  by  C.  C.  Gray  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Nelson. 

Secretary  J.  Travis  Rosser  resigned  his  office  in  conse- 
quence of  the  ill-health  of  his  wife. 

A  Mr.  Dillon  established  a  fishery  near  tlir  lower  ferry. 
For  years  he  supplied  us  with  fresh  fish. 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  289 

Minneapolis  was  no  longer  a  village.  On  the  12lh  of  July, 
1856,  Isaac  I.  Lewis  bad  a  capital  of  forty  thousand  dollars 
employed  in  his  trade.  Messrs.  Ames  &  Bascomb,  from 
Hennepin,  Illinois,  had  thirty  thousand  dollars  invested  in 
their  dry-goods  business,  and  Messrs.  Jackins  and  Wright 
had  as  much  more  money  in  their  store,  while  Samuel  Hidden, 
L.  C.  Elfelt,  John  H.  8i)ear  &  Co.,  J.  13.  Atkinson,  Josepli 
LeDuc,  Tufts,  Reynolds  &  Whittemore,  A.  L.  McGhee,  Mar- 
tin Ferrent,  Bil^bins  <t  Bigelow,  L.  W.  Henry,  Savory  <fe  Hor- 
ton,  S.  S.  Crowell,  and  E.  H.  Davie,  employed  a  large 
capital  and  enjoyed  a  large  trade.  Messrs.  Snyder  &  Mc- 
Farlane  had  a  capital  of  $180,000  in  their  land-agency  and 
banking  outfit.  Hon.  C.  H.  Petit  had  a  capital  of  $150,000 
in  his  bank  and  land-agency.  Hancock  &  Thomas,  Carlos 
Wilcox,  Dan  R.  Barber,  and  Delano  T.  Smith,  all  had  many 
thousands  of  dolhirs  at  their  command. 

There  were  early  in  July  the  following  contractors  who  had 
all  the  work  they  could  possibly  do  :  Chas.  N.  Daniels,  Joseph 
Dean,  Reuben  Robinson,  J.  E.  Patterson,  A.  K.  Hartwell, 
J.  B.  Ferrin,  D.  M.  Foss,  John  L.  Tenney,  Arnell  &  AVilson, 
and  Kingsbury  &  Ward. 

Of  the  many  booms  that  have  passed  over  Minneapolis 
since  the  laud  sales  in  1855,  there  was  none  that  exceeded 
that  in  the  summer  of  1856.  Many  who  arrived  that  summer 
became  prominent  citizens.  The  city  was  favored  with  such 
men  as  Rev.  D.  B.  Knickerbocker,  now  Bishop  of  Indiana, 
Chas.  E.  Vanderburgh,  D.  Y.  Jones,  S.  H.  Jones,  Daniel  R. 
Barber,  Erastus  N.  Bates,  Adolphus  Bradford,  Robert  R. 
Bryant,  Daniel  Bassett,  and  C.  A.  Weidstrand. 

A  union  board  of  trade  was  organized  the  first  of  July  with 
the  following  officers  ;  Hon.  D.  Morrison,  president  ;  Richard 
Chute  and  John  Jackins,  V.  P.;  I.  I.  Lewis,  corresponding 
secretary  ;  N.  H.  Hemiup,  recording  secretary  ;  R.  P.  Upton, 
Treasurer  ;  Edward  Murphy,  R.  P.  Russell,  S.  Hidden,  Sam- 
uel Stanchfield,  and  Daniel  Edwards,  directors.  Committee 
on  commerce,  Richard  Chute  and  John  Jackins. 

A  military  company  M-as  organized  at  the  Falls  of  St. 
Anthony,  called  the  Falls  City  Light  Guards,  on  the  15th  of 
July.  The  following  officers  were  commissioned  by  the  Gov- 
ernor :  Captain,   H.    R.    Putnam  ;  lieutenants,  J.    J.  Clarke, 


290  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

and  J.  Hollister.  Many  of  the  members  of  this  company 
became  distinguished  soldiers  during  the  war  for  the  Union. 
Some  of  them  attained  high  military  appointments.  This 
was  the  first  organization  of  a  military  company  at  St. 
Anthony. 

I  have  already  alluded  to  the  first  school-house  built  in 
Minneapolis,  but  as  a  matter  of  history  in  regard  to  it  I  copy 
the  following  notice,  which  appeared  in  the  Democrat,  in 
Minneapolis,  August  2d,  1856  : 

"  Sealed  proposals  will  be  received  until  6  o'clock  p.  m., 
"  August  15th,  1856,  for  building  a  school-house  in  Minne- 
"  apolis,  according  to  the  plans  and  specifications  to  be  seen 
"  at  the  office  of  Dr.  C.  L.  Anderson,  in  Savory  &  Horton's 
" drug-store,  Helen  street,  Minneapolis.  (Signed)  John  H. 
"Stevens, F.  E.  E.  Cornell,  C.  L.  Anderson,  Board  of  Trustees." 

Andrew  Jackson  Morgan,  an  editor,  and  a  j^ioneer  of  Min- 
nesota, died  at  St.  Paul  August  25th.  Mr.  Morgan  was  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  was  an  early  and  good  friend  to  Minne- 
apolis. I  had  knowai  Mr.  Morgan's  brother.  Gen.  Geo.  W. 
Morgan,  in  Mexico.  His  mother  was  a  sister  of  one  of  the 
secretaries  of  the  United  States  Treasury,  and  gave  my  sec- 
ond daughter  her  name.  Mr.  Morgan  was  only  twenty-eight 
years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

On  the  21st  of  August  Dr.  A.  E.  Johnson,  of  St.  Anthony, 
discovered  nearly  four  feet  of  the  remains  of  a  Dikelocephulus 
Minnesotansis,  immediately  below  the  Falls,  where  workmen 
were  blasting  for  the  mill  of  Eogers  &  Co.  The  specimen 
was  a  very  large  and  perfect  one.  It  was  taken  from  a  piece 
of  rock  that  had  occupied  about  the  middle  strata  of  the  upper 
magnesian  limestone.  Owens,  the  geologist,  speaks  of  this 
rare  and  imperfectly-known  species  of  fossil  as  being  first 
found  ninety  or  one  hundred  feet  below  the  base  of  the  lower 
magnesian  limestone  near  the  margin  of  Lake  St.  Croix  above 
Stillwater. 

A  tri-weekly  stage-line  was  established  August  25th  between 
Minneapolis  and  Monticello,  by  Messrs.  Hanson  &  Libbey. 
It  was  a  great  convenience  to  the  citizens  residing  on  the  line 
of  the  route,  as  well  as  to  the  people  of  Minneapolis  and  Mon- 
ticello. 

The  farm  of  Mr.  Christmas  was  laid  out  and  platted  as 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  291 

North  Minneapolis.  Isaac  I.  Lewis  and  Captain  John  C. 
Reno  purchased  an  interest  in  the  new  town-site.  Messrs.  A. 
Wolcott  <fe  Co.  purchased  a  Llock  of  land  on  the  bank  of  the 
river  from  the  proprietors  of  North  Minneui)olis,  and  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  large  steam-mill. 

A  postofRce  was  established  at  Moffett  &  Pettijohri's  mill, 
near  Minneapolis,  and  James  A.  Dinsmore  appointed  post- 
master. The  name  of  the  postoffice  was  Harmony.  This  is 
the  same  postoffice  that  is  now  called  Richfield.  At  the  time 
the  postoffice  was  established  the  town  was  known  as  Rich- 
land- Afterwards,  by  a  vote  of  the  citizens,  it  was  changed 
to  Richfield,  and  then  the  postoffice  took  that  name,  and 
remains  so  to  this  day. 

On  the  11th  of  September  Thomas  Warwick,  a  pioneer,  and 
one  of  the  best  citizens  of  Hennepin  county,  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Smith. 

The  Democrat  speaks  of  a  herd  of  short-horns  brought 
from  Kentucky  for  Messrs.  Hoag  and  J.  H.  Stevens. 
They  paid  a  large  price  for  some  thirty  head,  but  the  agricul- 
ture of  the  territory  was  not  sufficiently  developed  to  make  it 
profitable  to  raise  blooded  stock.  A  scrub  would  bring  as 
much  in  market,  those  early  days,  as  a  short-horn,  unless  it 
was  for  beef. 

The  Republican  party  was  thoroughly  organized  in  Henne- 
pin county.  Dr.  H.  Fletcher  headed  the  party  in  Minne- 
apolis, and  H.  G.  O.  Morrison  in  St.  Anthony.  The  following 
were  the  original  Republicans  in  Minneapolis  :  J.  B.  Bassett, 
A.  K.  Hartwell,  T.  Pettijohn,  AVm.  G.  Moffett,  John  M. 
Styles,  J.  H.  Spear,  Joseph  LeDuc,  J.  M.  Anderson,  Lyman 
Case,  Joseph  H.  Canney,  W.  H.  Rouse,  Samuel  Franklin, 
Simeon  K.  Odell,  Allen  Harmon,  E.  A.  Hodgdon,  E.  S. 
Jenks,  Zelotes  Downs,  S.  Clarke,  T.  AY.  Pierce,  Delano  T. 
Smith,  Henry  C.  Keith,  Z.  M.  Brown,  Asa  Keith,  W.  A. 
Hotclikiis,  A.  Crain,  F.  Duhren,  Josiah  Orthoudt,  and  Alfred 
Murphy.  Such  men  as  Judge  Cornell  and  others  soon  fell 
into  line. 

The  original  Republicans  in  St.  Anthony  were  H.  G.  O. 
Morrison,  Lardner  Bostwick,  Dr.  J.  H.  Murphy,  S.  W. 
Farnham,  William  Spooner,  Dr.  C.  W.  Le  Boutillier,  G.  G. 
Loomis,   Alonzo   Leaming,    Richard  Chute,  Henry  Meniger, 


292  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

Geo.  P.  Baldwin,  J.  C.  McCane,  James  M.  Jarrett,  E.  W. 
Cutter,  J.  C.  Johnson,  John  Glass,  Casper  Kopp,  Geo.  A. 
Nourse,  E.  P.  Upton,  Wm.  H.  Townsend,  Thomas  T.  Newell, 
J.  H.  McHerron,  John  Lucksinger,  Stephen  Cobb,  C.  Keller- 
man,  Martin  Conzet,  H.  AVebber,  T.  Smith,  J.  AY.  Gillam, 
Francis  Swett,  K.  W.  Cummings,  Dan  S.  Balch,  E.  Lippin- 
cott,  William  Lashelle,  Dr.  H.  AY.  Gould,  J.  B.  Hix,  M.  AY. 
Getchell,  J.  Macomber,  and  David  A.  Secombe. 

This  was  a  formidable  list  of  prominent  men  in  the  two 
cities.  The  AYhigs  and  Democrats  were  about  equally  divided 
as  to  those  who  composed  the  new  party.  Such  old  AYhigs 
as  Isaac  Atwater,  and  A.  M.  Fridley,  became  Democrats. 
John  AY.  North  had  left  his  home  in  St.  Anthony  and  taken 
up  his  residence  in  the  new  town  of  Northfield.  This  accounts 
for  the  omission  of  his  name  in  the  St.  Anthony  list. 

In  Richfield  the  original  Bepublicans  were  Gen.  R.  L. 
Bartholomew,  J.  H.  Perkins,  E.  Eobinson,  AYilliam  Finch, 
AYilliam  and  James  Dinsmore,  Denison  Townsend,  George 
Gillmore,  C.  Couilard,  Job  Pratt,  Jesse  Eichardson,  E.  Van 
Valkenburg,  and  Samuel  Stough.  In  Bloomington,  A\^illiam 
Chambers,  E.  B.  Gibson,  S.  A.  Goodrich,  M.  S.  AYhallon,  and 
J.  Harrison.  In  Eden  Prairie,  AA^.  C.  Collins,  Captain 
Terrell,  J.  S.  P.  Ham,  and  A.  D.  Eouse.  In  Excelsior,  Ste- 
phen Hull,  O.  AYilcox,  P.  M.  Gideon,  and  Eev.  C.  Galpin. 
In  Minnetonka,  S.  Bartow,  James  Shaver,  jr.,  and  H.  S. 
Atwood.  In.  AA^ayzata,  AY.  B.  Harrington,  John  S.  Harring- 
ton. In  Brooklyn,  Eev.  J.  AY.  Dow,  A.  H.  Benson,  Captain 
John  C.  Plummer,  C.  D.  Kingsley,  J.  M.  Durman,  A.  B. 
Chaffee,  Eufus  Pratt,  and  Dea.  Palmer.  In  Champlin,  AY. 
AY.  Gate,  AA^  AY.  AYoodman,  AY.  Hayden,  John  AYalker,  and  J. 
M.  Mullhollaud.  In  Maple  Grove,  AY.  E.  Evans,  G.  B. 
Brown,  and  Dea.  E.  E.  AYoodward.  In  Dayton,  S.  Anderson, 
J.  B.  Hinckley,  N.  Herrick,  A.  C.  Kimball,  and  A.  Clarke. 
In  Hassan,  H.  S.  Norton,  and  J.  McLenlock. 

It  should  not  be  supposed  that  the  above  list  contains  aU 
of  the  original  Eepublicans  in  the  several  towns,  but  those 
led  off  in  the  new  party.  The  citizens  in  the  new  counties  of 
Carver  and  McLeod  also  became  deeply  interested  in  the 
Republican  party.  The  leaders  in  the  former  county  were 
Isaac  Burfield,  Eobert  Miller,   John   S.  Letford,  George  M. 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  293 

Powers,  Henry  M.  Lymnii,  A.  W.  Adams,  Theo.  Best,  L.  H. 
Griffin,  H.  H.  Williams,  S.  D.  Hurd,  and  A.  Keller.  In  the 
latter  county  James  Phillips,  R.  A.  Grimshaw,  Lewis  Harring- 
ton, A.  J.  Bell,  W.  W.  Pendergast,  William  8.  Chapman, 
Henry  Elliott,  B.  E.  Messer,  C.  L.  Snyder,  James  Chesley, 
James  Pollock,  A.  J.  Snyder,  John  Hubbard,  and  I'.  Wilson. 

Many  in  the  above  list  have  occupied  high  positions  in  both 
the  civil  and  military  history  of  the  Northwest. 

The  second  annual  territorial  fair  came  off  in  Minneapolis 
October  8,  9  and  10.  Governor  Alexander  Ramsey,  the  pres- 
ident, gave  the  annual  address.  The  fair  was  a  success  in 
every  department.  It  was  attended  from  all  parts  of  the  ter- 
ritory. The  fair  grounds  were  on  what  is  now  Tenth  street, 
Minneapolis.  Over  two  thousand  dollars  were  paid  out  in 
premiums.  At  least  half  of  this  money  M'as  received  at  the 
gates  ;  the  other  half  was  made  up  by  the  citizens  of  Minne- 
apolis, as  follows  :  Steele  &  Stevens  $50,  Henry  T.  Welles 
$25,  Parsons  &  Morgan  $25,  Snyder  &  McFarlane  $25,  L.  W^ 
Henry  $25,  W.  G.  Murphy  $25,  Savory  &  Hortoii  $25,  T.  L. 
Bibbins  &  Co.  $25,  Lewis  &  Bickford  $25,  E.  H.  Davie  $25, 
James  Hoffman  $25,  E.  Case  $25,  Isaac  Atwater  and  Richard 
Martin  $25,  Hancock  &  Thomas  $25,  E.  H.  Crane  $25,  John 
H.  Spear  &  Co.  $25,  A.  E.  Ames  $25,  Martin  McLeod  $25, 
R.  Chute  $25,  R.  P.  Russell  $25,  Edward  Murphy  $20,  Charles 
Hoag  $25,  M.  L.  Olds  $30,  William  Hanson  $15,  F.  R.  E. 
Cornell  $15,  Charles  Hepp  $10,  S.  S.  Crowell  $10,  Martin 
Ferrant  $10,  Allen  Harmon  $10,  Alex  Moore  $10,  John  George 
Lenuon  $10,  M.  L.  Cook  $10,  Richard  Stout  $10,  E.  S.  Jones 
$10,  W.  D.  Babbitt  $10,  Henry  Chambers  $10,  B.  F.  Baker 
$10,  A.  K.  Hartwell  $10,  Henry  S.  Plummev  $10,  Francis 
Morrison  $10,  George  D.  Richardson  $10,  M.  C.  Baker  $10; 
George  W.  Chowen,  George  E.  Huy,  Sweet  W.  Case,  William 
Dickie,  Smith  &  Charlton,  H.  S.  Birge,  C.  C.  Berkman,  Wil- 
liam D.  Garland,  H.  G.  O.  Morrison,  C.  W.  Boruj)  and 
C  H.  Oakes  ten  dollars  each  ;  Delano  T.  Smith  $15,  Carlos 
Wilcox  $15,  Alexander  Ramsey  $25,  H.  H.  Sibley  $50,  AV.  A. 
Gorman  10,  and  Calvin  A.  Tuttle  $15  ;  A.  L.  Moore,  J.  B. 
Atkinson,  C.  L.  Anderson,  Calvin  Church,  J.  R.  Webb,  N.  E. 
Stoddard,  E.  Hedderley,  George  A.  Nourse,  R.  P.  Upton, 
David  Edwards,  J.  P.  AVilson,  John  L.  Teuuey,  W.  W.  Wales, 


294  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

J.  J.  Kennedy,  Tufts  &  Reynolds,  Albert  Webster,  Robert  O. 
Neil,  E.  F.  Parker,  Norman  W.  Kittson,  and  Isaac  Van 
Etten,  five  dollars  each.  The  list  is  only  given  that  the 
present  generation  may  know  the  liberality  of  the  pioneers  of 
Minneapolis. 

The  officers  eleoted  at  the  annual  meeting  for  1857  were 
Henry  H.  Sibley  of  Dakota  county  i:)resident,  and  a  vice- 
president  from  each  county  in  the  territory.  Dr.  Ames, 
Secretary  ;  S.  P.  Snyder,  Treasurer. 

A  large  party  under  the  auspices  of  Dr.  C.  L.  Anderson 
and  several  citizens  of  Minneapolis,  explored  the  country  west 
of  Glencoe  this  fall.  They  discovered  the  Kandiyohi  lakes, 
and  named  several  bodies  of  water,  which  names  are  retained 
to  this  day.  Lake  Lillian  took  its  name  from  the  wife  of  E. 
Whitefield,  the  artist  of  the  expedition. 

The  total  number  of  votes  polled  in  Hennepin  county  this 
year  was  1,761,  against  73  four  years  previously.  This  exhib- 
its the  remarkable  rapidity  with  which  the  county  has  become 
populated, ' 

A  fatal  explosion  occurred  at  the  large  steam  saw-mill  of 
Pomeroy  &  Bates,  at  the  mouth  of  Bassett's  creek,  this  fall, 
killing  Mr.  Hays  the  engineer.  This  was  the  first  accident  of 
the  kind  that  ever  occurred  in  Minneapolis. 

The  real  estate  transactions  were  lively  in  both  the  cities  at 
the  Falls  during  the  late  fall  and  early  winter.  Judge  Bas- 
sett  sold  his  antire  farm,  consisting  of  140  acres,  to  William 
D.  Garland  and  A.  Bradford;  The  price  was  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  per  acre.  J.  S.  &  D.  M.  Demmon  purchased 
eighty  acres  from  Francis  Morrison,  at  good  round  figures. 
The  citizens  on  the  east  side  of  the  Falls  subscribed  sixtj^-five 
thousand  dollars  for  the  building  of  a  railroad  from  the  Falls 
to  St.  Paul. 

Ivory  F.  Woodman  &  Co.  established  a  pork-packing  house 
in  Minneapolis.  This  was  the  commencement  of  the  pork 
business  in  Minnesota. 

Hartwell  &  Co.  opened  a  wood-yard  in  the  city,  the  first 
enterprise  of  the  kind  at  the  falls. 

E.  F.  Grain,  proprietor  of  the  city  jewelry-store,  had  built 
in  the  upper  story  of  his  new  block  a  prominent  cupalo  in 
which  he  placed  a  town  clock,  the  first  in  the  territory. 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITH    I'KOl'LE.  295 

Minnoai)()lis  received  a  large  addition  to  her  ])opiilatioii  this 
year,  men  of  great  merit,  and  some  of  them  became  well  known 
througliont  the  XTnion.  Among  them  were  Colonel  Cynis 
Aldrich,  Judge  C.  E.  Vanderburgh,  Hev.  ]).  ]>.  Knickerbocker, 
now  Bishop  of  Indiana,  Eugene  M.  AVilson,  William  8.  Heath, 
H.  A.  Partridge,  John  H.  Hatton,  Fred  Chalmers,  C.  W. 
Paulding,  S.  P.  Spear,  AVilliam  B.  Cornell,  T.  M.'  Linton, 
H.  L.  Birge,  L.  M.  Kiefer,  R.  J.  Mendenhall,  Thomas  G. 
Barnes,  G.  H.  Hamlinton,  M.  C.  Smith,  William  A.  Todd, 
Adoli)lius  Bradfoi-d,  Geo.  H.  AVoods,  H.  C.  Smith,  David 
Charlton,  L.  A\'.  Henry,  Thomas  Hale  Williams,  J.  C.  Sher- 
burne, George  D.  Richardson,  J.  Russell  Webb,  Winslow  T. 
Perkins,  John  H.  Spear,  Chai-les  K.  Sherburne,  C.  1).  David- 
son, and  J.  C.  Reno. 

W.  M.  Barrows  arrived  in  St.  Anthony  this  year.  His 
brother,  Fred  C  i)r{K'eded  him  the  previous  year.  The 
brothers  have  accomplished  much  in  the  lumber  business. 
Frank  Beebe  cast  his  lot  with  the  people  of  Minneapolis,  and 
became  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  in  this  state.  Daniel  R. 
Barber,  long  an  influential  citizen,  came  this  year.  Dr.  A. 
L.  Bausman,  one  of  the  pioneer  dentists,  was  a  valuable  addi- 
tion this  year.  John  and  his  brother  Nicholas  Bofferding 
also  became  residents  of  Minneapolis,  as  did  T.  M.  Bohau  of 
St.  Anthony.  Other  residents  this  year  were  R»  R.  Bryant, 
Josiah  H.  Chase,  R.  P.  Dunnington,  August  Ende,  Harlow 
A.  Gale,  Thomas  K.  Gray,  Elias  H.  Moses,  J.  W.  Munson, 
Peter  Rauen,  Godfrey  Scheitlin,  and  O.  T.  Swett.  Many  of 
these  names  became  prominent  in  the  history  of  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  Falls. 

There  were  two  new  church  buildings  erected  during  the 
year  ;  the  Episcopal,  Rev.  D.  B.  Knickerbacker,  rector  ;  and 
the  Methodist,  Rev.  AA'.  H.  St.  (lair,  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Rob- 
inson succeeded  Rev.  C.  G.  Ames  as  pastor  of  the  Free-will 
Baptist  church,  and  on  the  organization  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  Rev.  Norman  McLeod  was  chosen  its  first 
pastor.  Mr.  McLeod  was  a  brother  of  Martin  McLeod,  and 
is  a  man  of  great  ability.  The  trustees  of  the  church  were 
Charles  Clarke,  E.  N.  Bates,  Samuel  Hidden,  B.  F.  Baker,  L. 
P.  Chase,  AY.  K.  McFarlane,  Dr.  AA'.  H.  Leonard,  C.  E.  A^an- 
derburgh,  and  Mi".  AA'alcott. 


CHAPTEE  XXXIX. 

REMINISCENT  REVIEW  OF  EVENTS  OF   THE   PAST. 

The  year  1856  was  a  prosperons  one,  not  only  for  the  citizens 
of  Hennepin  county,  but  for  those  of  the  whole  territory.  The 
two  lovely  sister  towns,  St.  Anthony  and  Minneapolis,  so  fair 
to  look  upon  in  their  youth  and  rural  beauty,  had  expanded 
into  thriving  cities.  As  I  cannot  in  detail  further  follow  the 
progress  and  marvelous  development  of  the  now  united  cities 
I  will  merely  repeat  that  Minneapolis  proper  was  first  settled 
in  1849,  but  there  were  only  a  few  families  here  for  several 
years  thereafter  ;  and  I  will  add  that  the  first  settlers  were  as 
happy  in  their  poverty  as  their  descendants  now  are  in  their 
wealth.  The  pioneers  were  as  contented  in  their  rude  cabins, 
with  plain  surroundings,  coarse  clothing  and  homely  fare,  as 
others  who  now  live  in  elegant  mansions,  with  costly  furnish- 
ings, cradled  in  luxury,  and  reposing  on  couches  of  ease.  It 
required  fortitude  to  meet  the  trials  incident  to  a  new  country, 
but  the  frontier  life  had  its  charms.  The  hardships  incident 
thereto  strengthened  us  for  good  deeds  and  unselfish  work, 
that  made  us  better  citizens.  All  were  seemingly  on  a  level. 
Those  were  happy  days  of  free  and  cordial  social  life  and 
charming  simplicity.  There  were  no  schools,  but  most  of  the 
children  were  babes,  and  they  had  refined  and  educated  moth- 
ers. There  were  no  ministers  of  the  gospel,  but  we  observed 
the  sabbath.  Far  away  from  the  sound  of  Mie  church-going 
bell,  we  yet  rested  from  our  labors  one  day  in  seven  at  least. 
On  Sunday  wives  Aver(»  particular  in  having  each  one  of  the 
family  tidy.  Our  clothing,  though  coarse,  was  substantial  and 
comfortable.  Compared  with  the  more  ample  dress  and  costly 
vestments  of  recent  date,  our  raiment  would  now  be  unfash- 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  297 

ionable  ;  but  parents  of  the  present  time,  if  thrown  u])(jii 
their  own  resourees  and  dependent  upon  their  industry,  could 
not  better  sustain  themselves  and  their  families  in  respecta- 
ble honest  poverty  ;  and  with  the  greatest  resjject  for  them, 
we  must  say  that  it  is  to  be  doubted  if  they  would  as  cheer- 
fully make  the  etibrt.  To  the  untiring  industry  and  intelli- 
gence of  the  pioneer  ladies  of  Minnesota  we  were  all  indebted 
for  domestic  ha])j)iness,  that  now  seems  to  have  been  bliss. 

In  looking  back  upon  the  events  of  the  past  forty  years  in 
Minneapolis  I  seem  to  awake  from  a  dream.  The  transform- 
ation can  scarcely  be  resilized.  Nearly  everything  has  changed. 
The  few  pioneers  whose  lives  have  graciously  been  prolonged 
are  in  the  sear  and  yellow  leaf.  Their  beards  are  frosted  with 
age,  and  their  locks  powdered  with  the  snows  of  many  winters. 
For  many  summers  the  genial  sun  has  imprinted  upon  the 
tresses  of  these  first  ladies  of  this  new  land  the  light  of  its 
caresses.  All  these  marks  of  time  are  a  crown  of  glory  for 
good  works. 

Instead  of  rude  cabins,  elegant  residences  surround  me. 
Where  the  wolf  sat  and  howled,  are  ten-story  brown-stone 
business  blocks.  Tall  spires  point  toward  the  heavens  from 
fine  temples  of  worship.  A  net- work  of  railroads  is  all  around 
me.  Millions  are  invested  in  manufactures.  Commerce  is 
unceasing.  All  that  art  and  science  can  do  for  us  is  being 
done.  All  these  things  have  come  to  pass  in  a  little  over  one 
generation,  many  of  them  within  the  last  decade.  If  the  pos- 
sibility of  such  changes  had  been  suggested  to  me  on  that 
October  morning  in  1852  when  the  first  election  was  held  in 
Minneapolis,  I  should  have  said,  "Behold  !  if  the  Lord  would 
make  windows  in  Heaven,  then  might  these  things  be  !" 

One  hundred  and  fifty-seven  years  had  elapsed  since  the 
discovery  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  bj'^the  missionary  Louis 
Hennepin,  before  a  claim  was  made  to  the  soil  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  Falls.  For  more  than  ten  years  after  the 
latter  event,  no  progress  of  moment  was  made  in  developing 
the  wonderful  natural  resources  of  the  neighborhood. 

When  we  consider  that  it  is  but  a  few  years  since  this  was 
the  home  of  the  red  man,  and  when  we  view  the  great  city  of 
to-day,  we  can  hardly  imagine  what  a  mighty  destiny  is  in 
waitiuiT  for  those  who  will  soon  follow  us. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

EVENTS  OF  EIGHTEEN  HUNDKED  AND  FIFTY-SEVEN. 

On  New  Years  Day  1857,  there  was  a  meeting  of  the  Union 
Board  of  Trade  of  St.  Anthony  and  Minneapolis.  The  follow- 
ing officers  were  elected  for  the  year  :  Samuel  Hidden  presi- 
dent, David  Edwards  and  John  H.  Spear  vice-presidents, 
N.  H.  Hemiup  corresponding  secretary,  T.  L.  Bibbins  record- 
ing secretary,  R.  P.  Upton  treasurer,  Z.  E.  B.  Nash,  D.  Mor- 
rison, Richard  Chute,  John  Jackins  and  Edward  Murphy 
directors. 

Early  in  January  Edward  Patch  was  appointed  postmaster 
in  St.  Anthony. 

The  first  restaurant  in  Minneapolis  was  established  by  L. 

F.  Harris  the  first  part  of  January. 

The  new  county  officers  elected  for  1857  and  1858  were  Rev. 
C.  G.  Ames-  register  of  deeds,  Edward  Lippencott  sheriff,  G. 

G.  Loomis  county  commissioner,  Geo.  A.  Nourse  district- 
attorney,  John  L.  Tenuey  county  treasurer,  and  Edwin  Smith 
Jones  judge  of  probate.  For  the  first  time  the  citizens  of 
St.  Anthony  voted  in  Hennepin  county.  The  voters  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river  residing  in  the  county  were  liberal  in 
selecting  many  of  the  officers  from  St.  Anthony. 

Judge  Joel  B.  Bassett  was  elected  to  the  council  from  the 
Hennepin  district  in  place  of  D.  M.  Hanson  deceased,  and 
W.  W.  Wales  of  the  St.  Anthony  district  was  elected  to  the 
council  to  fill  a  a  ficancy  occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  John 
Rollins.  Asa  Keith  of  Richfield,  John  P.  Plummerof  Brook- 
lyn, Rev.  W.  Hayden  of  Champlin,  and  Delano  T.  Smith  of 
Minneapolis,  were  elected  to  the  house  of  representatives, 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PEOl'LE.  299 

while  Jonathan  Chase  and  Henry  Hechtman  were  elected  to 
the  same  offic-e  in  the  St.  Anthony  district.  The  session  for 
which  they  were  elected,  1857,  was  the  last  one  under  the 
territorial  authority. 

The  lej^islative  session  of  1857  was  more  important  than 
any  that  had  jjreceded  it,  from  the  fact  that  meml)er8  of  that 
body  had  the  disposal  of  the  vast  amount  of  land  granted  to 
Minnesota  in  aid  of  buildiniij  railroads,  and  took  the  necessary 
steps  for  the  territory  to  become  the  state. 

The  citizens  of  Minneapolis  met  early  in  March  for  the 
purpose  of  rendering  a  trilmte  to  Hon.  Henry  T.  Welles,  who 
had  visited  Washington  during  the  session  of  congress,  and 
had  contributed  largely  in  making  Minneapolis  a  railroad 
center,  in  the  passage  of  a  bill  granting  railroad  lands  to  Min- 
nesota. It  was  decided  that  a  public  dinner  should  be  given 
to  Mr.  Welles  as  a  slight  token  of  appreciation  of  his  great 
services  in  behalf  of  the  people — which  compliment  Mr. 
Welles  declined.  Messrs.  Eugene  M.  AVilson,  S.  P.  Snyder, 
Cyrus  Aldrich,  Isaac  Atwater,  C.  H.  Pettit,  and  other  promi- 
nent citizens,  participated  in  the  meeting. 

The  news  of  the  appointment  of  Samuel  Medary,  a  promi- 
nent editor  of  Ohio,  as  Governor  of  Minnesota,  was  received 
early  in  the  sin-ing.  Charles  L.  Chase  of  St.  Anthony  was 
selected  by  President  Buchanan  as  secretary  of  the  territory. 

New  towns  sprang  up  this  spring  all  over  the  territory. 
Many  of  them  were  of  course  paper  town-sites.  To-day  the 
location  of  many  of  those  sites  is  unknown. 

AN  INDIAN  BEPUBLIC. 
The  Hazlewood  republic,  established  on  the  upper  Missis- 
sippi by  Eev.  Dr.  Williamson  and  Eev.  Dr.  Riggs,  among  the 
Dakotas,  promised  good  results  this  year.  One  great  trouble 
the  missionaries  had  to  contend  with  was  the  difficulty  in 
getting  the  red  men  to  wear  shirts,  pants,  vests,  coats,  hats, 
and  short  hair,  instead  of  breechcloths,  blankets,  leggius,  and 
longhair.  Dr.  Eiggs  in  March  of  this  year  writes:  "We 
"  continue  to  make  some  progress  ;  occasionally  we  have  need 
"  for  the  barber  to  operate  upon  a  new  subject.  When  a  man 
"  doifs  the  Indian  and  dons  the  white  man's  dress,  by  far  the 
"  most  important  part  of  the  ceremony  is  cutting  off  the  hair. 
"  A  few  weeks  since  Robert  Chaskay  was  spending  the  evening 


300  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

"  at  Mr.  Renville's.  For  some  time  previous  Chaskay  had 
"  been  promising  to  put  on  pantaloons  as  soon  as  he  could 
"  obtain  a  full  suit.  Renville  intimated  to  him  that  he  doubted 
"  whether  he  had  such  intention.  Looking  up  at  a  coat  and 
"  pantaloons  which  hung  against  the  wall,  Chaskay  said  '  if 
"  you  will  give  me  those  I  will  put  them  on.'  No  sooner  said 
"  than  done.  Renville  pulled  down  the  clothes  and  gave  them 
"  to  Chaskay,  and  then  had  the  privilege  of  cutting  off  his  hair. 
"  As  those  locks  cost  him  so  much,  he  said  he  must  hang  them 
"up  as  a  house  ornament." 

Rev.  A.  A.  Russell,  one  of  the  most  faithful  of  ministers  in 
Minneapolis,  resigned  his  charge  over  the  Baptist  church  May 
1st.  Samuel  Hidden  was  appointed  postmaster  May  1st,  in 
place  of  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames.  On  the  12th  of  May  Carlos  Wilcox 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  S.  Burgess,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  F.  R. 
E.  Cornell ;  and  on  the  2d  of  June  C.  H.  Pettit  was  married 
to  Miss  Deborah  Williams,  daughter  of  Captain  Williams. 

On  the  3d  of  June  Mrs.  Margaret  Marble,  one  of  the  cap- 
tive women  taken  at  Spirit  Lake,  by  the  Indians,  in  March, 
was  brought  by  Indian  Agent  Flandreau  to  St.  Paul.  Inkpa- 
duta,  her  captor,  sold  her  for  a  keg  of  powder  to  a  couple  of 
Dr.  Williamson's  Lac-qui-parle  Indians. 

The  election  of  delegates  to  attend  the  Constitutional  con- 
vention for  the  formation  of  a  state  government,  came  off  on 
June  1st.  The  delegates  elected  from  this  district  were  Dr. 
A.  E.  Ames,  Col.  Cyrus  Aldrich,  David  Morgan,  and  Erastus 
N.  Bates,  of  Minneapolis  ;  Rev.  ,  W.  Hayden  of  Champlin, 
Gen.  R.  L.  Bartholomew  of  Richfield,  W.  F.  Russell  and  Rev. 
Chas.  B.  Sheldon  of  Minnetonka,  Henry  Eschlie,  Albert  W. 
Combs,  and  T.  D.  Smith,  of  Carver  county  ;  B.  E.  Messer  of 
Hutchinson,  McLeod  county.  From  the  St.  Anthony  district 
Judge  B.  B.  Meeker,  Wm.  M.  Lashelles,  Calvin  A.  Tuttle, 
Charles  L.  Chase,  Dr.  John  H.  Murphy,  L.  C.  Walker,  Peter 
Winell,  and  D.  A.  Secombe,  S.  W.  Putnam,  and  D.  M.  Hall. 

On  the  17th  of  June  the  new  Governor,  Samuel  Medary, 
removed  Rev.  C.  G.  Ames  from  the  office  of  register  of  deeds. 
An  hour  after  Mr.  Ames  was  decapitated,  the  county  com- 
missioners restored  him  to  office. 

William  D.  Washburn  arrived  in  Minneapolis  early  this 
season,  and  has  from  that  time  occupied  a  prominent  place  in 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  301 

the  history  of  the  city  and  country.  No  one  man  has  accom- 
plished more  for  the  land  of  his  adoption  than  has  General 
Washburn.  He  has  always  been  at  the  head  and  front  of 
every  movement  that  would  benefit  the  country. 

Rev.  A.  Gale,  from  Massachusetts,  was  called  to  the  pulpit 
of  the  Baptist  church,  in  June.  He  was  an  excellent  citizen 
and  a  good  pastor.  He  was  peculiarly  fitted  for  pioneer  work 
in  the  church.  He  accomplished  much  good  in  the  city,  state, 
and  northwest.  He  died  several  years  since  while  making  a 
journey  tlirough  the  Holy  Land.  His  memory  will  ever  be 
fondly  cherished  by  those  who  had  the  pleasure  of  his 
acquaintance. 

SPIRIT   LAKE  CAPTIVES. 

On  the  3d  of  May  Miss  Gardner,  the  surviving  captive  of 
the  Spirit  Lake  raid,  was  rescued  in  the  wilds  of  Dakota. 
She  arrived  in  St.  Paul  on  the  26th  of  June.  One  of  the 
Indians,  young  Inkpaduta,  engaged  in  the  massacre  at  Spirit 
Lake,  was  killed  by  members  of  the  Hazelwood  republic,  not 
far  from  Payzhehootaze,  late  in  June.  The  bones  of  the  chief 
who  led  the  murderers  at  Spirit  Lake  was  found  many  years 
since  near  the  present  town  of  Ortonville.  Most  of  the  red 
devils  engaged  in  that  horrible  affair  met  with  violent  deaths. 
Old  Inkpaduta's  band  of  Indians  were  declared  outlaws.  Their 
red  brothers  were  as  eager  as  the  whites  to  exterminate  them. 

The  members  of  the  constitutional  convention  met  in  St. 
Paul  on  Monday  the  15th  of  July. 

Rapid  progress  was  made  in  building  the  two  new  bridges 
over  the  Mississippi  this  early  summer.  They  were  ready  for 
the  traveling  public  before  the  winter  set  in. 

The  first  appearance  of  grasshoppers  since  the  organization 
of  the  territory  occurred  this  year.  They  made  their  appear- 
ance on  the  Fort  Snelling  prairie,  and  rapidly  spread  over  the 
portion  of  the  country  north  of  the  Minnesota  river.  Their 
greatest  injury  to  the  crops  was  in  Hennepin  county. 

GKEAT   DEPRECIATION   IN   PRICE  OF  PROPERTY. 

As  the  fall  approached  the  money  market  became  seriously 
stringent.  Numerous  banks  in  the  western  states  became 
insolvent.  Minnesota  had  not  sutficient  currency  for  the 
transaction  of  ordinary  business.  The  result  was  a  great  fall 
in  the   price   of  real  estate.     Corner  lots  that  would  readily 


302  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

bring  three  thousaud  dollars  in  Minneapolis  in  May,  could 
not  be  sold  in  October  for  three  hundred  dollars.  Property 
of  all  descriptions  depreciated  in  price. 

Hon.  Chas.  E.  Flandreau,  agent  for  the  Dakota  Indians, 
was  appointed  territorial  judge.  Hennepin  county  was 
assigned  to  his  judicial  district. 

A  high  school  was  opened  in  Minneapolis  under  the  care 
of  Prof.  A.  A.  Olcott.  The  immense  Winslow  hotel  in  St. 
Anthony  was  was  finished  and  furnished  in  the  most  complete 
manner.  Mr.  Winslow  let  the  house  to  M,  V.  and  D.  J. 
Mattison. 

A  distressing  accident  occurred  on  the  20th  of  August  at 
the  residence  of  Mr.  John  Reidhead,  about  four  miles  above 
Minneapolis.  Two  of  his  children  were  burned  to  death  in  a 
stable.     Mr.  Reidhead  was  highly  esteemed  in  the  county. 

The  two  principal  political  parties  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  Falls  organized  in  the  most  thorough  manner  early  in 
September.  James  A.  Lawrence  of  St.  Anthony  represented 
the  democracy,  and  Colonel  Cyrus  Aldrich  of  Minneapolis, 
represented  the  republicans. 

Woodbury  Fisk,  a  prominent  young  business  man  from 
New  Hampshire,  who  had  made  St.  Anthony  his  home  for  a 
year  or  more,  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Sinclair,  an  esti- 
mable young  lady  of  St.  Anthony.  Mr.  Fisk  became  one  of 
the  leading  merchants  and  millers  at  the  Falls.  He  died  late 
in  the  winter  of  1889. 

The  Constitutional  convention  met  in  St.  Paul  July  13th, 
and  closed  August  29th. 

Messrs.  W.  A.  CrofPut  and  Edwin  Clarke  having  purchased 
the  St.  Anthony  Republican  from  Rev.  C.  G.  Ames,  these 
gentlemen,  on  the  28th  of  September,  published  the  first 
number  of  the  Daily  News,  the  first  daily  newspaper  ever 
printed  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

On  account  of  so  many  bank  failures,  the  country  was 
flooded  with  -worthless  bank-bills.  A  person  who  had  retired 
at  night  with  a  pocket-book  well  filled  with  currency  which 
was  considered  good,  might  awake  the  next  morning  to  find 
that  he  could  not  buy  a  breakfast  with  hundreds  of  dollars  of 
that  currency. 

The  Cataract  hotel  was  finished  and  opened  to  the  public 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  303 

the  first  of  October.  The  Nicollet  house,  erected  by  J.  M. 
Eustis,  was  also  ready  for  guests  this  fall.  Woodman's  hall, 
ca[)able  of  holdiug  more  people  than  any  room  in  the  territory, 
was  completed  this  fall. 

The  second  annual  Minnesota  fair  was  held  in  St.  Paul, 
commencing  Octol)er  1st.  Messrs.  J.  W.  Bass,  D.  C.  Taylor, 
and  Major  P.  P.  Furber,  were  the  committee  on  management. 
The  annual  address  was  delivered  by  the  president,  Hon. 
H.  H.  Sibley,  on  the  third  day  of  the  fair.  The  officers 
elected  for  1858  were  Judge  M.  Sherburne  jJresident,  J.  W. 
Selby  vice-president,  Simon  P.  Snyder  treasurer,  John  Mur- 
ray jr.  secretary. 

Franklin  Cook,  so  long  a  leading  citizen  and  engineer, 
arrived  in  Minneapolis  this  year.  He  was  at  once  elected 
county  surveyor.  The  mill  company's  dam  across  the  Missis- 
sippi, which  was  in  process  of  erection,  proved  to  be  the  most 
gigantic  undertaking  of  any  similar  work  on  the  great  river. 
The  new  board  of  directors  were  Hon.  D.  Morrison,  Hon.  TV. 
D.  Washburn,  Dr.  Jacob  S.  Elliott,  Geo.  E.  Huy,  Leonard 
Day,  and  H.  E.  Mann.  Gen.  Washburri  was  appointed  secre- 
tary and  agent,  and  Mr.  Mann  treasurer.  The  stockholders 
had  paid  in  several  hundred  thousands  of  dollars.  Now  the 
hard  times  made  it  difficult  for  them  to  raise  more  money  to 
complete  the  work.  They  persevered,  however,  and  in  time 
the  work  was  finished. 

Many  new  and  beautiful  structures  were  completed  this 
season.  The  finest  bank  building  in  the  state  was  com])leted 
and  occupied  by  Messrs.  Snyder,  McFarlane  &  Cook,  on  Hen- 
nepin avenue. 

A  lecture  association  was  organized  in  St.  Anthony  with 
James  E..  Lawrence  president,  Hon.  David  Heaton  vice- 
president,  Edwin  Clark  secretary,  and  R.  C.  Gi'aves  treasurer. 
This  was  the  first  organization  of  the  kind  at  the  Falls. 

There  being  no  small  change  in  circulation,  the  merchants 
issued  fractional  notes  of  ten,  fifteen,  twenty-five  and  fifty 
cents,  which  obtained  a  wide  circulation.  The  following  is  a 
correct  copy  of  one  of  them  : 

"  Minneapolis,  Min.,  Oct.  20th,  1857. 

"25  cts.  This  certificate  for  twenty-five  cents  M'ill  be 
"  redeemed  with  current  bank  notes,  at  our  store,  corner  of 


304  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

'"  Bridge  and  First  street,  when  presented  to  the  amount  of 
"one  dollar.  Moore  &  Power." 

Mr.  Alex  Moore,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  who  signed 
the  above,  was  one  of  the  first  commissioners  of  Hennepin 
county.  The  firm  were  the  successors  of  I.  I.  Lewis  &  Co., 
and  A.  Bradford.  The  place  of  business  was  where  Harlow 
A.  Gale's  city  market  hoiise  now  stands.  These  were  times 
that  tried  a  man's  character.  If  he  was  a  good  man,  he  was 
proved  to  be  such  ;  if  he  was  a  bad  man,  he  appeared  in  his 
real  character.'  Messrs.  Snyder,  McFarlane  &  Cook,  C.  H. 
Pettit,  and  Beebe  &  Mendenhall,  the  prominent  bankers  of 
Minneapolis,  rendered  all  the  aid  to  the  poor  that  was  in  their 
power.  They  loaned  many  thousands  of  dollars  on  securities 
which  were  considered  good,  but  in  the  end  proved  worthless. 
As  the  winter  months  approached,  instead  of  any  relief  in  the 
money  market,  it  became  more  stringent.  Such  dreadfully 
dark  days  in  financial  matters  had  not  occurred  since  the 
panic  of  1837.  The  bottom  disappeared  from  everything 
except  politics. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  to  fill  the  county 
offices  for  1858  and  1859  :  Clerk  of  the  court,  H.  A.  Partridge  ; 
judge  of  probate,  E.  S.  Jones  ;  register  of  deeds,  C.  G.  Ames  ; 
treasurer,  David  Morgan  ;  county  commissioner,  F.  Thorn- 
dike  ;  county  surveyor,  F.  Cook.  Messrs.  A.  C.  Austin,  J.  C. 
McCarnard,  and  Fred  Bassett  were  elected  assessors.  The 
first  election  for  members  of  the  state  senate  and  house  of 
representatives  was  held  this  fall.  E.  N.  Bates  and  Delano 
T.  Smith  were  elected  senators,  and  R.  B,  Gibson,  Dr.  Geo. 
H.  Keith,  William  S.  Chowen,  and  J.  B.  Hinckley,  members 
of  the  house  of  representatives  from  Hennepin  west  ;  and 
Jonathan  Chase,  senator,  and  L.  C.  Walker  and  William  H. 
Townsend  to  the  house  of  representatives  from  St.  Anthony, 
which  election  district  was  known  as  Hennepin  east.  Hon. 
James  E,.  Lawrence  of  St.  Anthony  was  elected  district- 
attorney  for  the  Fourth  judicial  district,  which  comprised 
several  counties.  Mr.  Lawrence  was  a  son  of  Judge  Law- 
rence, a  distinguished  jurist  of  New  York.  He  had  recently 
made  St.  Anthony  his  home.  He  was  one  of  the  most  elo- 
quent speakers  that  ever  addressed  a  Minnesota  audience. 
He  died  early  in  life.     With  his  great  talent  and  popularity, 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  306 

had  his  life  been  spared,  he  would  unquestionably  long  ere 
this  have  occupied  the  highest  trusts  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 
He  has  two  children  residing  in  Minneapolis — James  A. 
Lawrence,  of  the  firm  of  Wilson  &  Lawrence,  and  Mrs.  Reeve, 
wife  of  Colonel  C.  McReeve. 

James  M.  Jarrett  had  purchased  the  block  Mr.  Steele  and 
I  had  built  in  1851  and  changed  it  into  a  first-class  hotel. 
He  was  the  landlord  for  several  years,  when  he  sold  it  to  J.  W. 
Thurber,  who  gave  it  the  name  of  the  Tremont. 

The  first  syrup  made  from  sorghum  in  Minnesota  was  man- 
ufactured this  fall  at  Elm  creek,  now  Champlin,  in  this  county, 
by  H.  W.  Richardson.  As  syrup  in  large  quantities  is  now 
made  from  the  early  amber  and  other  varieties  of  sorghum, 
Mr.  Richardson  deserves  special  mention  as  the  first  one  in 
this  section  who  was  successful  in  the  enterprise. 

The  census  of  Minnesota  was  ordered  by  congress  prepara- 
tory to  the  admission  of  the  territory  as  a  state.  By  the 
returns  St.  Anthony  had  a  population  October  1st,  1857,  of 
4,720 ;  Minneapolis  and  the  Reserve  4,120  ;  the  rest  of  the 
county  4,523  ;  total  13,363. 

October  15th  a  daily  mail  via  St.  Paul  was  established  by 
the  postoffice  department  from  the  Falls  to  Prairie  du  Chien 
This  was  the  first  daily  mail  service  over  this  route. 

Charles  E.  Vanderburgh  and  Miss  Julia  N.  Mygatt  of  New 
York  were  married  this  year.  Arthur  H.  Mills,  a  pioneer, 
and  Miss  Abby  Newell  were  married  October  24,  in  New 
Haven,  Connecticut.  W.  W.  Eastman,  who  has  been  so  prom- 
inent in  the  destinies  of  this  immediate  country,  settled  in 
St.  Anthony  this  year.  On  the  1st  of  November,  at  Dr. 
Bausman's  office,  in  Minneapolis,  the  Minnehaha  fire  company 
reorganized  with  W.  A.  Todd  for  president  and  foreman,  Fred 
Chalmers,  treasurer  ;  A.  L.  Bausman,  F.  Chalmers  and  W. 
Wringley,  executive  committee. 

The  St.  Anthony  Express  was  sold  this  fall  to  Prof.  D.  S. 
B.  Johnson  and  Chas.  H.  Slocum.  Prof.  Johnson  was  editor- 
in-chief.  Mr.  Slocum  had  charge  of  the  local  columns.  Both 
of  these  gentlemen  have  since  become  prominent  in  this  state. 

Mrs.  Mary  C.  Smith,  wife  of  senator-elect  Del n no  T.  Smith, 
died  suddenly  November  15th.  On  the  17th  Walter  Carpen- 
ter, a  brother  of  Mrs.  J.  B.  Bassett,  died. 


306  PERSON/ii^  RECOLLECTIONS 

The  advertisement  of  O.  M.  Laraway,  dealer  in  groceries 
and  provisions,  corner  of  Second  and  Bridge  streets,  appeared 
in  the  journals  of  the  day.  Mr.  Laraway,  during  his  long 
residence  in  Minneapolis,  has  been  honored  with  many  high 
local  and  federal  trusts,  which  he  has  worthily  held. 

R.  J.  Mendenhall,  who  had  made  the  city  his  home  the 
previous  year,  associated  with  him  in  business  Mr.  C.  Beede, 
a  man  from  New  England.  They  extended  their  kind  deeds 
to  a  large  number  of  persons  who  were  affected  by  the  panic. 

Simon  Stevens,  the  pioneer  of  Minnetonka,  was  married  by 
Rev.  A.  D.  Williams  to  Miss  Kate  C.  Cole,  early  in  December, 
and  Henry  Oswald  was  married  by  the  same  clergyman  to 
Miss  T.  Sieber. 

The  first  state  legislature  met  in  St.  Paul  December  2d. 
The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  in 
Hennepin  county,  elected  and  qualified  to  serve  for  1858  : 
Bloomington,  E.  B.  Stanley,  George  Cook  ;  Corcoran,  John 
Molan,  Israel  Dorman  ;  Dayton,  A.  C.  Kimble,  W.  P.  Jones  ; 
Hopkins,  H.  H.  Hopkins,  L.  Holman  ;  Eden  Prairie,  "W.  O. 
Collins,  H.  F.  Durgin  ;  Excelsior,  O.  Wilcox,  E.  Day  ;  Green- 
wood, T.  R.  Briggs,  A.  S.  Lensbeye  :  Hassan,  S.  Anderson  ; 
Island  City,  John  Carman  ;  Medicine  Lake,  D.  Parker,  F. 
Huot  ;  Maple  Grove,  William  Trott,  John  B.  Bottineau  ; 
Minneapolis,  Henry  Hill  ;  Minnetonka,  A.  B.  Robinson  ; 
Maple  Plain,  Wm.  F.  Hillman,  Irvin  Shrewsbury  ;  Richfield, 
Geo.  W.  Irvin  ;  Lower  St.  Anthony,  Wm.  McHerron,  J[.  C. 
McCain  ;  Upper  St.  Anthony,  Anton  Grethen,  George  W. 
Thurber  ;  Wayzata,  J.  A.  Colman,  Wm.  A.  Spafford. 

The  first  New  England  Society  was  organized  late  in 
December,  with  Colonel  Cyrus  Aldrich,  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  president ;  vice-presidents,  natives  of  New  England 
states,  D.  Morrison,  Maine  ;  Wm.  M.  Kimble,  New  Hamp- 
shire ;  E.  N.  Bates,  Massachusetts  ;  Thos.  Hale  Williams, 
Rhode  Island  ;  Henry  T.  Welles,  Connecticut  ;  and  A.  E. 
Ames,  Vermont.  Forefathers  day  was  observed  by  the  society 
with  all  honors.  W.  A.  Croffut,  then  a  young  man  just  from 
the  land  of  steady  habits,  contributed  much  that  made  the 
event  interesting.  Then,  as  now,  Mr.  Croffut  was  talented, 
and  his  presence  at  an  assemblage  of  this  kind  could  not  fail 
of  making  an  impression. 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  ♦         807 

MEN   OF   iMARK   WHO   ARRIVED   IN  EIGHTEEN   FIFTY-SEVEN. 

A  large  number  of  immigrauts  located  in  the  two  cities  this 
year.  Among  them  were  Hon.  R.  J.  Baldwin,  General  T\'^.  D. 
Washburn,  Samuel  C.  Gale,  Eugene  M.  Wilson,  Jacob  K. 
Sidle,  Eev.  J.  F.  Chaffee,  Judge  E.  B.  Ames,  Major  A.  C. 
Morrill,  Jesse  Bisliop,  Josiah  H.  Chase,  H.  D.  Beeman,  David 
Heaton,  ^^'illiam  A.  Croffut,  J.  C  AVilliams,  Jolin  C.  Oswald, 
Edwin  Clarke,  George  A.  Brackett,  Dan  M.  Demmon,  Henry 
Oswald,  William  Garcelon,  Nathan  Herrick,  W.  W.  Winthrop, 
Paris  Gibson,  William  Lochreu,  Jared  8.  Demmon,  P.  H. 
Kelly,  D.  Y.  Jones,  Anthony  Kelly,  L.  M.  Stewart,  William 
P.  Ankeny,  Fred  Chalmers,  Cai)tain  Williams,  Asa  B.  Bar- 
ton, Dr.  S.  F.  Rankin,  Solon  Armstrong,  Thomas  G.  Barnard, 
William  Buckendorf,  C.  G.  Bugbee,  H.  C.  Butler,  W.  H. 
Chamberlain,  Gilbert  Clough,  D.  M.  Clough,  Thomas  Gardi- 
ner, J.  G.  Gluck,  Anton  Grethen,  C.  B.  Heffelfinger,  Michael 
Hoy,  L.  Mell  Hyde,  B.  F.  Inks,  J.  G.  Jones,  W.  H.  Lauder- 
dale, James  R.  Lawrence,  James  W.  Lawrence,  S.  B.  Loye, 
Michael  Lyons,  Peter  McKernan,  W.  W,  McNair,  Charles 
Robinson,  and  Fred  L.  Smith. 

It  was  hoped  that  the  financial  panic  which  had  so  recently 
swept  over  the  country  would  end  before  the  close  of  the 
year,  but  it  rather  increased,  and  the  people  accepted  the 
hard  times  with  as  much  cheerfulness  as  they  could  command. 
So  dej^ressed  were  the  citizens  by  the  financial  crisis  that 
places  of  amusement  were  comparatively  unattended,  though 
the  best  musicians  were  appreciated,  such  as  Ole  Bull  and 
Adelina  Patti,  who  appeare^l  at  an  early  day  before  the  people 
at  the  falls.  Fortunately  Ave  had  in  our  midst  Prof.  Widstrand, 
one  of  the  best  teachers  of  music  in  the  northwest,  and  many 
ladies  in  this  city  to-day,  daughters  of  the  pioneers,  are 
indebted  to  him  for  their  musical  education. 


CHAPTEK  XL. 

THE  LOCAL  OUTLOOK  IN  EIGHTEEN  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY-EIGHT. 

The  year  1858  opened  under  gloomy  circumstences.  Trade 
was  depressed,  currency  depreciated,  business  paralyzed,  real 
estate  valueless,  and  financial  ruin  to  all  classes  seemed  inev- 
itable. The  crops  of  1857  were  poor.  The  flow  of  immigration 
ceased.  Since  the  24th  of  August,  when  the  Ohio  Life  Insur- 
ance and  Trust  Company  failed,  no  one  could  borrow  money, 
for  no  one  had  it  ;  and  yet  the  people  were  hopeful.  The 
fractional  currency  issued  by  the  merchants  and  bankers 
was  a  convenience.  The  News  and  the  Republican,  two  of 
the  leading  newspapers  at  the  Falls,  opposed  the  issue  of 
these  notes,  which  led  to  a  warm  controversy  between  Messrs. 
Snyder,  McFarlane  &  Cook,  C.  H.  Pettit,  O.  M.  Laraway, 
Alex  Moore,  Jackins  &  Wright,  Beebe  &  Mendenhall,  A. 
Clarke,  and  other  business  men.  Gosport,  Tekoma,  and 
Brownsville  was  about  all  the  money  that  was  in  circulation, 
and  it  was  claimed  by  many  of  the  citizens  that  this  currency 
was  of  doubtful  character.  At  all  events  the  bills  issued  by 
these  banks  served  an  excellent  purpose  for  the  occasion. 

A  new  board  of  trade  was  organized  the  first  of  the  year, 
for  the  purpose  of  rendering  every  possible  relief  to  business 
men  and  citizens  generally.  The  officers  were  Captain  John 
G.  Reno,  president  ;  Richard  Chute  and  William  M.  Kimball, 
vice-presidents  ;  T.  S.  Bibbins  and  Judge  Hemiup,  secreta- 
ries ;  William  D.  AVashburn,  treasurer  ;  John  S.  Pillsbury, 
D.  Morrison,  W.  D.  Babbett,  Samuel  Hidden,  and  Edward 
Hedderly,  directors.  The  efforts  of  this  organization  were 
attended  with  good  results  in  many  instances.     This  was  the 


OF  MINNESOTAA    ND   ITS   PEOPLE.  300 

first  public  position  held  by  Mr.  Pillsbury,  and  his  earnest 
labors  in  behalf  of  the  business  interests  in  this  neighborhood 
at  that  early  day  plainly  indicated  a  brilliant  future  was  in 
store  for  him. 

FORT  SNELLING  PROPERTY  SOLD. 

Franklin  Steele  and  others  purchased  tlie  Fort  Snelling 
property,  which  caused  an  excitement  of  some  magnitude. 
An  investigation  of  the  sale  was  ordered  by  congress,  the 
result  of  which  proved  Mr.  Steele  to  be  the  honorable  man  he 
was  known  to  be  by  all  his  acquaintances.  Sul)sequently  Mr. 
Steele  and  those  associated  with  him  transferred  to  the  gov- 
ernment the  buildings  and  the  necessary  amount  of  land 
required  by  the  government  for  parade-grounds,  gardens, 
hay-lands,  and  building  purposes,  outside  of  the  garrison. 

The  early  year  was  attended  with  large  revivals  in  both 
cities.  Joel  B.  Bassett  and  Otis  Bradford  were  ap])ointed 
county  commissioners  in  place  of  Geo.  W.  Chowen  and  Mr. 
Thorndyke,  resigned.  Geo.  A.  Brackett,  who  has  since 
become  such  a  useful  and  prominent  citizen,  opened  business 
in  Minneapolis  early  this  year,  on  the  corner  of  Second  and 
Minnetonka  streets  ( now  Second  avenue  south ).  This  was 
Mr.  Brackett's  first  business  venture  in  Minneapolis. 

The  United  States  land-office  was  moved  from  Minneapolis 
to  Forest  City,  in  Meeker  county. 

A  bill  was  introduced  into  the  Legislature  in  February  in 
favor  of  the  state  issuing  five  million  dollars  in  bonds  to  be 
used  in  building  the  land-grant  railroads.  At  firs^  this  bill 
met  with  serious  oi)position  in  Minnea])olis  by  such  able  men 
as  Colonel  Cyrus  Aldrich,  M.  S.  Olds,  F.  R.  E.  Cornell,  AV.  D. 
Washburn,  Chas.  E.  Vanderburgh,  Geo.  A.  Brackett,  Judge 
E.  B.  Ames,  C.  A.  Tuttle,  Edwin  Hedderly,  Henry  S.  Birge, 
El.  J.  Baldwin,  D.  Morrison,  Dr.  J.  S.  Elliott,  Geo.  E.  Huy, 
Wyman  Elliott,  Leonard  Day,  D.  M.  Coolbaugh,  P.  H.  Kelly, 
and  W.  P.  Ankeny.  On  the  other  hand,  Senator  Bates,  rep- 
resentative Geo.  H.  Keith,  and  many  others,  approved  of  the 
measure. 

Margaret,  daughter  of  Joseph  Tuay,  was  burned  to  death 
at  her  father's  house  in  St.  Anthony. 

The  legislature  passed  the  bill  establishing  an  agricultural 
college  at  Glencoe.     Kev.  J.  C.  Whitney,  in  the  early  spring 


310  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

of  this  year,  retired  from  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church  to  accept  a  similar  position  at  Forest  City. 
Orin  Curtis  was  elected  Mayor  of  St.  Anthony.  W.  W. 
AVales,  who  had  so  acceptably  tilled  the  mayor  s  chair  in  that 
city  during  1857  refused  to  be  a  candidate  for  re-election. 

At  the  election  April  15th  in  regard  to  the  five  million  loan 
bill,  the  citizens  of  St.  Anthony  and  Minneapolis  voted  in 
favor  of  the  measure  by  over  fifteen  hundred  majority. 

The  steamers  running  above  St.  Anthony  on  the  Mississippi 
this  year  were  the  H.  M.  Rice,  Willia^m  Harmon,  owner, 
Enterprise,  Levi  Cosset,  owner,  and  North  Star,  J.  M.  Gil- 
man,  owner.  The  Young  brothers,  A.  R.  and  J.  B.,  were  the 
masters  of  the  last  two  boats. 

Sixty-four  of  the  business  men  published  a  notice  that  they 
would  receive  state  script  at  par  for  debts  or  for  goods. 

IMPROVEMENTS  AND  CHURCHES. 

Richard  Chute  purchased  of  L.  M.  Ford  this  spring  two 
thousand  shade  trees,  with  which  he  lined  the  streets  of  St. 
Anthony.  By  this  act  alone  Mr.  Chute  became  a  public  ben- 
efactor. The  different  churches  in  Minneapolis  were  repre- 
sented as  follows  :  Baptist,  Rev.  Amory  Gale  pastor  ;  S.  A. 
Jewett,  James  Sully,  and  Joshua  Drajjer,  deacons  ;  Geo.  H. 
Keith,  and  C.  B.  Goodyear,  clerks ;  Joseph  S.  Johnson, 
treasurer  ;  J.  C.  Weld,  collector  ;  James  Sully,  S.  A.  Jewett. 
Geo.  H.  Keith,  H.  Fletcher,  and  J.  P.  Abrahams,  trustees. 
Plymouth,  Rev.  Norman  McLeod,  pastor ;  Charles  Clark, 
Samuel  l^idden,  D.  R.  Barber,  J.  H.  Spear,  Dr.  William  H. 
Leonard,  B.  F.  Baker,  S.  P.  Chase,  A.  Walcott,  and  Charles 
E.  Vanderburgh,  trustees ;  W.  H.  Leonard  and  Cyrus  Snow, 
deacons  ;  Erastus  N.  Bates,  clerk.  Free-will  Baptist,  Rev. 
A.  D.  Williams,  pastor  ;  Allen  Harmon,  deacon  ;  Henry  C. 
Keith,  Edwin  S.  Jones,  and  Henry  Hill,  trustees  ;  Rufus 
Cook,  clerk  ;  Charles  Sherburne,  sexton.  Gethsemane,  Rev. 
D.  B.  Knickerbacker,  rectoi- ;  Henry  T.  Welles  and  Captain 
John  C.  Reno,  wardens  ;  Judge  I.  Atwater,  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames, 
W.  S.  Phinney,  W.  J.  Parsons,  C.  H.  Wood  and  Alfred  Mur- 
phy, vestrymen  ;  M.  B.  Horton,  clerk ;  S.  W.  Phinney,  treas- 
urer. Presbyterian,  Rev.  F.  A.  Griswold  officiated  occasion- 
ally as  pastor  after  the  removal  of  Rev.  J.  C .  Whitney  to 
Forest  city  ;  Joseph  LeDuc,  elder  ;  D.  M.  Anderson,  S.  S. 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  311 

Crowell,  J.  L.  Tenney,  and  J.  T.  Grimes,  trustees.  Methodist, 
Rev.  T.  M.  Gossard,  Rev.  J.  ]).  Rich,  pastors  ;  Rev.  J.  W. 
Dow,  local  elder  ;  Solomon  AVeill,  E.  J.  Scrimgeon,  A.  Jackson 
Bell,  R.  AV.  Plummer,  J.  Oadhoudt,  J.  Cyphers,  and  T.  S. 
Bibbins,  stewards  ;  Joseph  Dean,  S.  Weill,  and  A.  J.  Bell, 
leaders. 

W.  P.  Day  commenced  supplying  the  residents  of  Minne- 
opolis  with  milk  this  spring.     He  was  the  city's  first  dairyman. 

On  April  ITtli,  Emily  Mygatt,  the  oidy  child  of  Hon.  R.  J. 
Baldwin,  died 

THE    UNION    SCHOOL    AND    BISHOP    KNICKERBACKER 

The  union  school  opened  for  the  spring  and  summer  under 
the  most  favorable  conditions.  As  this  was  the  first  regular 
term  with  a  full  corps  of  teachers,  their  names  are  given  : 
George  B.  Stone,  superintendent  and  i)rincipal  ;  Miss  S.  S. 
Garfield,  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Titus,  Miss  H.  E.  Harris,  and  Miss 
Adeline  Jefferson,  teachers.  Rev.  D.  B.  Knickerbacker,  now 
Bishop  of  Indiana,  was  secretary,  and  one  of  the  directors  of 
the  union  schools,  and  to  that  gentleman  is  the  public  indebted 
to  a  great  extent  for  the  success  of  those  schools.  Perhaps 
no  one  man  contributed  more  in  every  possible  way  for  the 
benefit  of  Minneapolis,  and  it  was  a  great  loss,  not  only  to  the 
city,  but  to  the  state,  when  he  became  Bishop  of  Indiana. 
His  good  works  in  the  ministry  for  more  than  a  generation  in 
Minneapolis,  will  be  lasting  for  all  time  to  come. 

Minneapolis  had  six  good  hotels  at  this  time — the  Nicollet, 
the  Cataract,  the  Bushnell,  the  American,  the  Wilber,  and 
the  Minnesota  ;  Avhile  St.  Anthony  led  off  with  the  large 
Winslow,  Jarrett,  St.  Charles,  Revere,  Union,  and  the  Cheever. 

Dr.  Philo  L.  Hatch  arrived  in  Minneapolis  from  Dubuque, 
this  early  summer,  and  from  that  time  to  this  has  had  much 
influence  in  the  city. 

At  the  first  Minneapolis  election  held  this  summer,  Henry 
T.  Welles  was  elected  president  of  the  corporation,  and 
Charles  Hoag,  William  D.  Garland,  Isaac  I.  Lewis,  and  E. 
Hedderly,  trustees  ;  William  A.  Todd,  clerk  ;  John  Murray 
jr.,  treasurer  ;  C.  C.  Berkman,  marshal  ;  and  David  Charlton, 
city  engineer.  These  officers  were  elected  under  the  new 
corporation  act  granted  to  the  city  by  the  first  legislature. 
It  was  deemed  better  that  the  affairs  of  the  city  should  be 


312  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

governed  by  a  president  and  board  of  trustees,  rather  than  a 
mayor  and  city  council. 

Hon.  E.  M.  Wilson  was  appointed  by  the  President  United 
States  attorney  for  the  new  state  of  Minnesota. 

Dr.  S.  H.  Chute  was  married  in  St.  Anthony  May  8th  to 
Miss  Helen  E.  H.  Day. 

The  state  being  admitted  into  the  Union,  the  new  law  of 
township  organization  was  carried  into  effect.  On  the  13th  of 
May  the  several  toM^ships  elected  new  officers.  In  St. 
Anthony  James  B.  Gilbert  was  selected  for  chairman,  Richard 
Fewer  and  James  C.  Tuffts,  supervisors  ;  Dan  M.  Demmon, 
town  clerk  ;  James  A.  Lennon  assessor ;  James  W.  Ellis, 
collector  ;  and  James  Holmes,  overseer  of  the  poor.  Minne- 
apolis elected  R.  P.  Russell,  chairman  ;  Daniel  Bassett,  D.  B. 
Richardson,  Edward  Murphy  and  I.  I.  Lewis,  supervisors  ; 
Geo.  E.  Huy  and  Henry  Hill,  justices  of  the  peace. 

St.  Anthony  and  the  country  generally  sustained  a  great 
loss  in  the  death  of  Judge  S .  M.  Tracy,  on  the  13th  of  May. 
Judge  Tracy  was  one  of  t*lie  most  prominent  young  men  in 
the  state. 

Henry  H.  Sibley  and  the  other  state  officers  were  sworn 
into  office  May  24th. 

The  Nicollet  house  was  opened  by  a  banquet  on  May  26th. 
Judge  E.  B.  Ames  presided,  with  Colonel  Aldrich,  Judge 
Cornell,  D.  Morrison,  W.  W.  Eastman,  Judge  Atwater,  Joel 

B.  Bassett,  Edward  Murphy,  Henry  T.  "Welles,  James  R. 
Lawrence,"  B.  E.  Baker,  and  J.  B.  Gilbert,  vice-presidents. 
Speeches  were  made  by  the  above,  and  by  Governor  Sibley, 
E.  M.  Wilson,  and  others. 

Anson  Northruj)  purchased  the  steamer  North  Star  for  the 
navigation  of  the  Mississippi  from  Fort  Ripley  to  the  falls  of 
the  Pokegema.  This  was  the  first  boat  ever  placed  in  the 
trade  above  Sauk  Rapids. 

The  first  editorial  convention  ever  held  in  Minnesota  con- 
vened in  St.  Paul  June  3d.  Most  every  paper  published  in 
the  boundaries  of  the  state  at  that  time  was   represented. 

C.  Stebbins  of  the  Hastings  Independent  occupied  the  chair, 
and  David  Blakely  of  the  Bancroft  Pioneer  was  chosen  secre- 
tary. The  executive  committee  consisted  of  Marshall  Robin- 
son of  the  Glencoe  Register,  A.  J.  Van  Vorhis  of  the  Still- 


OF    MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  313 

water  Messenger,  Thomas  Foster  of  the  Minnesotian,  Mr. 
Dodge  of  the  Free  Press,  Mr.  Hensley  of  tlie  Mankato  Inde- 
pendent, and  Mr.  Brown  of  the  BrownsviHe  Herald. 

In  pursuance  of  adjournment  the  state  legislature  met  June 
'2d,  G<)V(M-n()r  Sibley's  messjige  being  delivered  that  day. 
This  was  the  tirst  message  delivered  to  the  legislature  by  the 
governor  after  the  state  was  admitted  into  the  Union. 

Eliza,  wife  of  Deacon  John  S.  Mann,  died  at  the  residence 
of  the  family  June  24tli.  She  was  one  of  the  i>ioneer  women 
of  Minnesota,  and  was  greatly  respected  by  the  whole  com- 
munity. She  was  the  daughter  of  Deacon  Joshua  Draper, 
and  was  thirty-seven  years  old. 

A  grand  celebration  was  held  on  Nicollet  Island  July  4th, 
Colonel  Aid  rich  presiding.  This  was  followed  by  observing 
the  anniversary  of  the  West  India  emancipation  on  July  31st. 
Speeches  were  made  on  that  occasion  by  Samuel  C.  Gale, 
Rev.  C.  G.  Ames,  Prof.  G.  B.  Stone,  Geo.  A.  Nourse,  and 
others.  This  was  the  first  appearance  of  Mr.  Gale  before  a 
Minneapolis  audience.  A  more  eloquent  effort  had  never 
been  made  in  the  city. 

On  the  l()th  of  August  news  was  received  of  the  successful 
landing  of  the  Atlantic  cable. 

A  beautiful  flag  was  presented  to  James  M.  "VVinslow,  pro- 
prietor of  the  AVinslow  hotel,  St.  Anthony,  by  the  ladies  of 
that  city.  The  committee  who  officiated  on  that  occasion 
was  composed  of  Mrs.  Sumner  W.  Farnham,  Mrs.  Isaac 
Atwater,  Mrs.  R.  B.  Graves,  and  Mrs.  S.  H.  Chute. 

On  the  18th  of  August  Geo.  A.  Brackett  was  married  at 
Excelsior,  by  Rev.  Chas.  B.  Sheldon  to  Miss  Annie  M.  Hoyt 
of  Minneapolis. 

W.  P.  Ankeny  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Minneapolis 
early  in  the  fall,  in  place  of  Samuel  Hidden,  resigned. 

Several  British  noblemen  arrived  in  St.  Anthony,  and  spent 
several  days  in  visiting  the  upper  country.  Among  them  were 
the  Earl  of  Shaftsbury,  Lord  Cavendish,  Lord  Grosvenor, 
Sir  George  Simpson,  and  Rt.  Hon.  H.  Ellis.  They  were 
accompanied  by  Dr.  John  Rea,  the  celebrated  Arctic  explorer. 

On  September  14th  it  was  decided  that  it  would  not  be 
desirable  to  hold  a  state  fair  this  fall  There  was  no  response 
to  the  executive  committee  from  the  different  cities  and  towns 


314  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

in  behalf  of  the  fair.     The  fact  is  there  was   no  money  in  the 
hands  of  the  citizens  to  contribnte  for  such  a  purpose. 

HENNEPIN    COUNTY   ELECTION. 

At  the  first  annual  election  after  the  organization  of  the 
state  government  of  Minnesota,  which  was  held  in  Hennepin 
county  in  October  of  this  year,  the  following  gentlemen  were 
elected  a  county  board  of  supervisors  :  Bloomington,  Hon. 
Martin  McLeod ;  Brooklyn,  E.  T.  Ailing  ;  Corcoran,  Israel 
Dorman  ;  Dayton,  A.  C.  Kimball ;  Eden  Prairie,  Aaron 
Gould ;  Excelsior,  E.  B.  McGrath ;  Hassan,  S.  Finical  ; 
Independence,  Irvin  Shrew^sbury  ;  Maple  Grove,  A.  C.  Austin  ; 
Minneapolis  township,  E.  P.  Eussell  ;  Minnetonka,  Fred 
Bassett  ;  Plymouth,  Francois  Huot ;  Eichfield,  Joel  Brews- 
ter ;  St.  Anthony  township,  Captain  J.  B.  Gilbert  ;  Green- 
wood, N.  D.  Fennell ;  Minnetrista,  S.  L.  Merriman.  At  the 
same  election,  Messrs.  Nelson  S.  Hoblit,  G.  D.  Eich,  Colonel 
Aldrich,  and  Daniel  Bassett,  were  elected  supervisors  of 
Minneapolis  ;  Eichard  Strout,  sheriff  of  Hennepin  county  ; 
Geo.  W.  Cliowen,  register  of  deeds  ;  H.  O.  Hamlin,  auditor  ; 
A.  C.  Morrill,  county  attorney  ;  and  Franklin  Cook,  county 
surveyor.  In  St.  Anthony  David  Heaton  was  elected  senator, 
S.  Lawrence,  and  E.  S.  Alden,  members  of  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives. In  Hennepin  county  Williem  D,  Washburn, 
Aaron  Gould,  E.  B.  McGrath,  and  A.  C.  Austin,  were  elected 
to  the  house  ;  the  senators  holding  over. 

On  September  2oth  a  herd  of  buffaloes  made  their  appear- 
ance on  the  Amos  James  farm,  near  Hutchinson,  in  McLeod 
county. 

On  the  26th  John  Baxter  of  Dayton  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Nettleton  ;  and  on  the  4th  of  October  George  W. 
Chowen  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  E.  Hawkins. 

C.  H.  Pettit's  paper,  the  Journal,  made  its  appearance  late 
in  September. 

On  the  19th  of  October  Prof.  S.  H.  Folsom,  recently  of 
Maine,  opened  a  select  school  in  St.  Anthony.  Over  four 
hundred  resident  children  of  Minneapolis  attended  the  union 
school  at  the  fall  term,  ranging  from  four  to  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  and  not  one  of  them  was  born  in  the  city. 

The  population  of  Minneapolis  this  fall  was  a  little  over 
four  thousand  ;  that  of  St.  Anthony  was  a  little  larger. 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  315 

On  the  Ist  of  November  Rev.  E.  I).  Neill  was  ai)pointe(i 
Oliancelor  of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  The  appointment 
was  a  p()i)ulur  one.  No  one  had  contributed  so  much  to  the 
educational  interests  of  the  territory.  He  was  an  earnest 
friend  to  all  that  would  benefit  the  people.  He  had  been  a 
constant  visitor  to  St.  Anthony,  preaching  to  the  citizens  in 
the  early  days  without  pay.  He  gave  the  first  lecture  in  the 
old  town  before  tlie  library  association,  and  has  always  been 
faithful  to  every  trust.  A  Christian  minister,  eloquent,  tal- 
ented, energetic,  his  hands  are  full  of  good  work.  He  ■\fas 
one  of  the  originators  and  promoters  of  of  the  early  organiza- 
tions that  have  so  greatly  benefitted  the  north  star  state. 

The  first  lodge  of  good  templars  was  established  in  St. 
Anthony  late  in  the  fall  of  this  year.  Geo.  A.  Camp,  Miss 
Hannah  C.  Stanton,  Rev.  J,  F.  Chafl'ee,  Mrs.  Calista  Chaffee, 
A.  P.  Connelly.  Kate  H.  Hall,  Henrietta  Murphie,  L.  P. 
Foster,  Miss  Jane  Morrison,  and  Miss  Sarah  G.  Cleveland, 
were  the  first  officers  of  the  organization. 

James  P.  Howlett  of  Minneapolis  was  married  in  Tecumseh, 
Michigan,  on  the  9th  of  November,  to  Miss  Sarah  Graves. 

Hard  as  the  times  were,  there  were  two  hundred  buildings 
erected  in  St.  Anthony  during  the  season  of  1858,  at  a  cost  of 
$310,000  ;  and  in  Minneapolis  one  hundred  and  seventy,  at  a 
cost  of  $275,000.  No  one  could  imagine  where  the  money 
came  from  necessary  for  the  erection  of  these  buildings. 

As  the  winter  set  in  it  was  determined  by  the  citizens  of 
Minneapolis  to  organize  a  lecture  association.  Samuel  Hid- 
<len  was  chosen  president  of  the  association  ;  Samuel  C.  Gale, 
secretary  ;  and  John  C.  Williams,  H.  D.  Beemau,  and  Dr. 
Geo.  H.  Keith,  executive  committee.  The  object  of  the  asso- 
ciation was  intellectual  improvement  during  the  long  winter 
evenings.  Thi'ough  the  wise  management  of  Mr.  Gale  and 
the  other  officers  of  the  association,  the  citizens  were  favored 
with  many  choice  lectures  during  the  winter. 

The  practicing  physicians  at  the  Falls  at  the  end  of  Decem- 
ber this  year  weie  Dr.  J.  H.  Murphy,  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames,  Dr. 
M.  R.  Greeley,  Dr.  J.  S.  Elliott,  Dr.  W.  H.  Leonard,  Dr.  B. 
Jodon,  Dr.  A.  Grtman,  Dr.  W.  D.  Dibb,  Dr.  C.  W.  Boutillier, 
Dr.  C.  L.  Anderson,  Dr.  P.  L.  Hatch,  Dr.  J.  B.  Sabine,  and 
Dr.  Simon  French  Rankin. 


316  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Most  of  the  physicians  belonged  to  the  allopathic  school, 
though  Dr.  Elliott's  practice  was  herbal,  and  Dr.  Hatch's 
homeopathic.  The  latter  was  the  pioneer  in  his  practice  in 
Minneapolis,  as  Dr.  Elliott  was  in  his  ;  though  Dr.  Ira 
Kingsbury,  the  primitive  physician  in  St.  Anthony,  belonged 
to  the  same  school.  Dr.  Leonard,  at  that  time,  was  a  member 
of  what  is  termed  the  old  school  class  of  physicians. 

Financially  the  year  ended  as  it  commenced,  under  a  cloud, 
and  yet  there  was  much  that  made  life  enjoyable.  Thomas 
Hale  Williams,  C.  M.  Cushman,  and  Charles  H.  Clarke,  sup- 
plied the  citizens  with  choice  books  and  the  magazines  of  the 
day.  Several  matrimonial  alliances  were  effected  at  the  close 
of  the  year.  Among  them  were  D.  B.  S.  Johnson,  editor  of 
the  Express,  to  Miss  Hannah  C.  Stanton  ;  Mark  T.  Berry  to 
Miss  N.  J.  Rowell,  and  George  Davis  to  Miss  Helen  M. 
Coulliard.  Mr.  Johnson  assumed  the  editorial  chair  of  the 
Express  on  the  elevatien  of  Isaac  Atwater  to  the  supreme 
bench  of  the  state. 

Frank  L.  Morse,  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  county,  arrived 
in  St.  Anthony,  and  S.  C.  Robinson  made  Minneapolis  his 
home  this  year.  So  did  Jacob  A.  Wolverton  and  H.  D. 
Hockey. 

The  merchants  and  business  men  were  constantly  on  the 
alert,  de\dsing  ways  and  means  to  continue  in  trade  under  the 
depressing  circumstances  that  surrounded  them*  H.  M. 
Carpenter,  a  resident  of  St.  Anthony  since  1854,  exhibited  a 
good  deal  of  tact  in  conducting  a  large  trade  throughout  the 
hard  times. 

As  the  new  year  approached  the  weather  became  extremely 
cold,  but  there  was  plenty  of  fuel  at  cheap  rates. 


CHAPTER  XIL. 

LOCAL   EVENTS   OF   EIGHTEEN   HUNDRED   AND   FIFTY-NINE. 

On  the  third  of  January  a  union  commercial  association 
was  organized  in  tlie  interest  of  the  merchants  and  business 
men  of  the  city.  The  object  of  the  association  was  to  aid  in 
every  possible  way  the  business  men  of  the  two  cities  during 
the  stringency  in  money  matters  that  prevailed  in  the  north- 
west. Colonel  William  M.  Kimball  was  elected  president  of 
the  union  ;  Mayor  O.  Curtis,  and  Edward  Murphy,  vice- 
presidents  ;  S.  W.  Farnham,  treasurer  ;  William  D.  Wash- 
burn, corresponding  secretary  ;  Henry  Eeynolds,  recording 
secretary ;  W.  D.  Washbuni,  John  S.  Pillsbury,  Samuel 
Hidden,  John  C.  Eeno,  and  Colonel  Cyrus  Aldrich,  were 
appointed  the  board  of  directors.  This  organization  was  the 
source  of  a  good  deal  of  benefit  to  all  classes  of  citizens.  Its 
labors  were  on  the  mutual  aid  principle.  Through  the 
instrumentality  of  W.  D.  Washburn  the  citizens  on  both 
banks  of  the  river  held  a  series  of  meetings  the  first  part  of 
January  to  devise  measures  to  induce  the  building  of  rail- 
roads leading  to  and  concentrating  at  the  Falls.  These  meet- 
ings were  largely  attended.  Dorillus  Morrison  and  many 
other  prominent  men  participated  in  the  deliberations. 

On  the  10th  of  January  a  daily  stage  line  from  the  Falls  to 
LaCrosse  was  established  by  Colonel  A.  Allen,  and  his  part- 
ner Chas.  L.  Chase  ex-secretary  of  the  territory.  This  was  a 
much-needed  movement.  Subsequently  it  was  united  with 
J.  C.  Burbank's  line  of  stages. 

A  lodge  of  good  templars  was  established  in  Minneapolis 
at  this  time.     The  officers  were  Rev.  A.  D.  Williams,  Paul 


318  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

Fitzgerald,  Miss  Nellie  Elliott,  A.  C.  Weeks,  D.  M.  G.  Mer- 
rill, James  F.  Bradford,  Hiram  Van  Nest,  and  Miss  E.  A. 
Towne.  This  was  the  first  organization  of  the  order  in  Min- 
neapolis. 

The  iron  foundry  of  Messrs.  Scott  &  Morgan,  in  St.  Anthony, 
was  now  in  full  operation.  This  was  the  first  iron  works  of 
moment  at  the  Falls.  Mr.  Morgan,  one  of  the  proprietors, 
afterwards  became  a  general  in  the  Union  army.  He  died 
from  the  effect  of  injuries  received  in  the  war. 

On  the  14th  of  February  Chas.  K.  Sherburne  of  Minneap- 
olis was  married  to  Miss  Lucy,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the 
pioneer,  Deacon  Allen  Harmon. 

NOTABLE  SOCIAL   GATHERING — THE   PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

The  residents  at  the  Falls,  natives  of  the  middle,  western, 
and  southern  states,  celebrated  the  first  of  March  with  a 
grand  banquet  at  the  Nicollet.  O.  Curtis,  Mayor  of  St. 
Anthony,  represented  Iowa  ;  Dr.  B.  Jodon,  Maryland  ;  Wm. 
McHerron,  and  Chas.  E.  Vanderburg,  New  York  ;  David 
Charlton,  Indiana  ;  Geo.  W.  Wilson,  Virginia  ;  J.  E.  Past, 
Delaware  ;  Deacon  A.  M.  Oliver,  Missouri  ;  Robert  W. 
Brown,  South  Carolina  ;  Wm.  Carathuers,  Tennessee  ;  Levi 
Estes,  Oregon  ;  L.  C.  Walker,  Illinois  ;  A.  B.  Hermanj 
Michigan  ;  W.  Howell  Eobinson,  California  ;  Calvin  A. 
Tuttle,  Wisconsin  ;  Wm.  K.  McFarlane,  and  Robert  W. 
Cummings,  Pennsylvania  ;  C.  H.  Pettit,  Ohio  ;  Captain 
Gonzales,  Texas  ;  R.  J.  Mendenhall,  North  Carolina  ;  H.  D. 
Beeman,  Georgia  ;  ex-Governor  W.  A.  Gorman,  Kentucky  ; 
Harvey  Officer,  Mississippi ;  and  Dr.  J.  H.  Murphy,  New 
Jersey.     Socially  this  was  a  grand  meeting. 

Money  was  so  scarce  that  the  teachers  in  the  public  schools 
were  unpaid  for  their  services.  They  all  resigned.  This 
was  more  than  the  patrons  of  the  schools  could  endure.  A 
public  meeting  was  called  the  last  day  of  February  to  consider 
the  matter.  Judge  E.  B.  Ames  was  called  to  the  chair,  and 
Rev.  D.  B.  Knickerbacker  acted  as  secretary.  After  active 
efforts  by  Henry  T.  Welles,  Dr.  Fletcher,  Colonel  Aldrich, 
J.  B.  Bassett,  Dr.  Ames,  Charles  Hoag,  D.  M.  Coolbaugh, 
Deacon  James  Sully,  A.  Bradford,  H.  S.  Plummer,  Deacon 
Harmon,  Rev.  D.  B.  Knickerbacker,  Prof.  Stone,  F.  R.  E. 
Cornell,  and  Edward  Murphy,  the  school  was  relieved   of  its 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  319 

financial  difficulties.  Even  at  this  early  day  the  union  school 
was  the  pride  of  Minneapolis. 

Lumbermen  were  made  happy  by  the  cheerful  news,  early 
in  March,  that  pine  logs  would  bring  seven  dollars  per 
thousand  in  the  lower  markets.  This  was  a  considerable 
advance  over  the  prices  of  the  previous  year. 

A  union  gathering  in  Minneapolis  was  held  February  14th, 
Hon.  Martin  McLeod  in  the  chair.  Most  of  the  prominent 
citizens  were  present.  Speeches  were  made  by  Messrs.  Cornelh 
Vanderburgh,  E.  M.  Wilson,  Henry  T.  Welles,  and  others. 

A  novel  organization  was  perfected  in  St.  Anthony  on  the 
13th  of  March,  by  the  young  folks.  It  was  known  as  the 
juvenile  society.  The  officers  were  L.  P.  Foster,  Hattie  Hea- 
ton,  Frank  O'Brien,  Aggie  Day,  Rachel  M.  Chaffee,  James 
Fall,  Chas.  H.  Slocum,  Samuel  A.  Lewis,  and  G.  B.  Whedden- 

On  the  31st  of  March  Harlow  A.  Gale  was  appointed  county 
auditor,  in  place  of  H.  O.  Hamlin,  resigned.  This  was  the 
commencement  of  Mr.  Gale's  public  services  in  Minnesota. 
He  has  been  true  to  every  trust,  and  and  all  his  labors  have 
been  in  the  interests  of  the  city,  county  and  state,  as  well  as 
in  the  interest  of  morality.  All  classes  are  better  for  Mr 
Gale's  advent  into  this  city  in  1856,  from  which  period  he. 
has  made  his  home  in  Minneai3olis. 

In  consequence  of  the  hard  times,  the  news  of  the  gold 
discoveries  at  Pike's  Peak  was  received  this  early  summer 
with  delight  by  many  citizens  at  the  Falls.  They  sent  Isaac 
I.  Stevens  over  to  the  mines  to  make  a  thorough  examination 
of  the  mines  and  report.  The  result  was  that  from  sixty  to 
one  hundred  persons  left  the  Falls  for  the  new  El  Dorado. 
Most  of  them,  in  time,  returned  to  this  state. 

At  the  Annual  municipal  election  in  St.  Anthony  O.  Curtis 
was  re-elected  Mayor  by  a  small  majority  over  D.  E.  Moulton. 
J.  B.  Gilbert,  Bichard  Grover,  and  J.  C.  Foster,  supervisors  ; 
J.  H.  Pearl,  clerk  ;  the  other  town  officers  elected  were  Dr. 
S.  H.  Chute,  David  Edwards,  and  Wm.  M.  Lashelle. 

In  Minneapolis  Colonel  Aldrich,  A.  J.  Bell,  and  J.  S. 
Malbon,  were  elected  supervisors.  The  other  officers  were 
H.  C.  Keith,  Collin  Hamer,  Cyrus  Snow,  G.  D.  Eichardson, 
Amos  Clarke,  and  J.  C.  Williams. 

The  dreadful  state  of  affairs  in  the  financial  world  made  the 


320  PEKSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

people,  in  some  instances,  desperate.  Suicides  were  frequent. 
Murders  were  committed,  and  murderers  were  lynched,  in 
Wright  and  LeSueur  counties.  Fatal  accidents  frequently 
occurred.  Executions  against  property  for  debts  were 
numerous.  Kichard  Strout,  sheriff  of  Hennepin  county,  had 
placed  in  his  hands  judgments  for  eighty  thousand  dollars 
from  the  time  he  assumed  his  office  on  January  1st  up  to 
April  10th,  against  debtors.  Of  this  amount  he  collected 
twenty  thousand  dollars. 

Two  new  papers  were  established  in  Minneapolis  this  spring, 
the  Atlas,  by  Col.  Wm.  King  ;  and  the  Plaiudealer,  by  H. 
E.  Purdy.  The  Atlas  was  Republican,  and  the  Plaindealer 
Democratic.  Both  were  conducted  with  talent.  It  was  a 
fortunate  thing  for  this  city,  and  for  the  state,  when  Colonel 
King  made  his  home  in  Minneapolis. 

Dr.  A.  E.  Ames  was  appointed  this  spring  associate  com- 
missioner of  the  court  of  claims  for  Minnesota. 

The  fourth  session  of  the  annual  Methodist  conference  was 
convened  in  St.  Anthony  May  4th,  Bishop  Baker  presiding. 
Eev.  J.  O.  Eich  was  assigned  to  Minneapolis,  and  Dr.  Cyrus 
Brooks  to  St.  Anthony. 

On  the  24th  of  May  Bayard  Taylor  commenced  a  series  of 
lectures  in  the  two  cities. 

The  Minneapolis  postmaster,  Wm.  P.  Ankeny,  was  married 
May  11,  in  Schellsburg,  Pennsylvania,  to  Miss  E.  M.  Schell. 

Ginseng  suddenly  became  an  important  article  of  commerce 
this  spring.  That  root  was  about  the  only  commodity  in 
Minnesota  that  readily  brought  cash.  Large  quantities  were 
sold  in  the  Minneapolis  and  St.  Anthony  markets.  The  big 
woods  was  full  of  the  plant,  and  the  gathering  of  it  enabled 
the  farmers  to  pay  their  taxes.  It  also  enabled  them  to  pay 
their  debts  to  the  merchants.  It  afforded  quite  a  relief  to  the 
citizens  during  the  trying  times  of  the  panic.  Benj.  S.  Bull, 
a  resident  of  Minneapolis  since  1855,  erected  a  commodious 
dry-house  with  the  proper  conveniences  for  preparing  the 
ginseng  for  the  Chinese  market. 

Misfortunes  still  attended  some  of  the  enterprises  of  the 
twin  cities.  The  upper  and  lower  bridges  were  destroyed  by 
the  high  water  on  June  3d.  There  was  only  one  hour's  dif- 
ference in  their  destruction  ;  the  one   at  8  p.   m.,   and  the 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND   ITS  PEOPLE.  321 

other  at  9  p.  m.  Besides  the  loss  in  the  bridges,  the  high 
water  in  the  river  seriously  damaged  the  mills  and  booms. 
It  was  claimed  that  the  river  was  the  highest  ever  known  at 
the  Falls. 

Meetings  were  held  in  both  cities  in  regard  to  the  railroads. 
Judge  Meeker,  Judge  David  Morgan,  and  others,  participated 
in  them. 

Dr.  Chas.  W.  Borup,  a  pioneer,  and  a  prominent  business 
man,  died  in  St.  Paul  May  6th. 

Messrs.  Chase  and  C.  C.  Secombe  commenced  the  erection 
of  a  paper-mill  in  St.  Anthony  this  season,  the  first  in  the 
state.  It  was  completed  during  the  year,  and  the  enterprise 
proved  a  successful  one. 

The  water  in  the  northwestern  rivers  was  unusually  high 
this  summer.  The  steamer  Anson  Northrup  went  through 
Big  Stone  Lake  and  Lake  Traverse  to  the  Red  river  of  the 
north.  The  Hudsen  Bay  company,  and  J.  C.  Burbank  of  St. 
Paul,  purchased  the  boat.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a  large 
trade  by  steamers  on  the  Red  river  of  the  north. 

Rev.  Dr.  Horace  Bushnell,  the  distinguished  New  England 
divine,  arrived  in  St.  Anthony  in  August,  and  remained  in  the 
vicinity  for  many  months. 

Politics  ruled  supreme  in  Minnesota  from  August  to 
October,  in  consequence  of  it  being  the  occasion  of  the  second 
state  election. 

There  being  no  woolen  mills  in  Minnesota,  Messrs.  Chas. 
Hoag  and  John  P.  Plummer  were  obliged  to  send  their  wool 
crop  to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  a  distance  of  over  four  hundred 
miles,  to  be  made  into  cloth. 

A  mechanics'  institute  was  organized  in  St.  Anthony  Sept. 
8,  with  Messrs.  M.  ^Y.  Getchell,  H.  W.  Gould,  Dr.  J.  H. 
Murphy,  John  B.  Gilfillan,  and  H.  B.  Taylor,  as  officers. 

D.  B.  Dorman,  a  leading  banker,  was  accidentally  shot 
while  on  a  hunting  expedition.  The  wounds  were  of  such  a 
severe  character  that  they  disabled  liini  for  life.  He  died 
many  years  since. 

The  state  was  full  of  imported  orators.  Speeches  from  the 
stump  were  of  an  every-day  occurrence.  Among  those  of  a 
national  reputation  who  canvassed  the  state  were  Senator  John 
P.  Hale  of  New  Hampshire,  Speaker  Grow  of  Pennsylvania, 


322  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

Frank  Blair  of  Missouri,  Governor  Willard  of  Indiana,  and 
many  others. 

The  state  fair  was  held  jointly  with  the  Hennepin  county 
fair,  in  Minneapolis,  October  5,  6  and  7.  Judge  M.  Sher- 
burne delivered  the  annual  address.  The  oflEicers  elected  for 
1860  were  Chas.  Hoag,  president ;  A.  Jackson  Bell,  secretary. 

Dr.  C.  L.  Anderson,  who  accompanied  Hon.  W.  H.  Noble 
into  the  Rocky  mountains  as  geologist,  returned  from  the 
expedition.  Dr.  Anderson  reported  important  discoveries  of 
mineral  wealth  in  the  Rocky  mountains.  This  was  before  the 
days  of  very  much  mining  in  what  is  now  Montana  and  Idaho. 

On  the  8th  of  October  six  persons  were  drowned  in  Minne- 
tonka,  among  whom  were  Martin  B.  Stone  and  wife  and  two 
children. 

At  the  annual  fall  election  this  year  Col.  Cyrus  Aldrich  of 
Minneapolis  was  elected  to  congress,  while  L.  Bostwick  of  St. 
Anthony  was  elected  judge  of  probate  of  Hennepin  county. 
The  other  county  officers  chosen  were  Joseph  Dean,  treasurer; 
Harlow  A.  Gale,  auditor  ;  General  Bartholomew  of  Richfield, 
and  Jesse  Bishop  of  Minneapolis,  senators  ;  J.  P.  Abraham, 
H.  E.  Mann,  A.  C.  Austin,  and  Irvin  Shrewsbury,  members 
of  the  house  of  representatives.  In  St.  Anthony  David 
Heaton  was  elected  senator,  and  D.  A.  Secombe  and  Geo.  P. 
Baldwin,  members  of  the  house.  Chas.  E.  Vanderburgh  was 
elected  judge  of  the  district  court.  He  has  been  continu- 
ously on  the  bench,  district  and  supreme,  ever  since. 

November  1st  W.  A.  CrofPut  sold  his  half  of  the  Evening 
News  to  Uriah  Thomas.  He  returned  to  New  England  and 
commenced  the  publication  of  another  paper. 

November  2d  H.  H.  Hopkins  started  down  the  river  from 
Murphy's  landing  with  a  large  flat-boat  loaded  to  the  guards 
with  Minnesota  products,  which  he  sold  at  good  rates  in  the 
southern  markets.  This  was  the  first  venture  of  the  kind 
from  Minnesota.     It  proved  a  profitable  one. 

Mr.  Collins  Hamer,  the  Hennepin  county  official,  had  in 
November  a  serious  adventure  with  a  bear  in  Carver  county. 

On  the  17tli  of  the  month  Rev.  D.  B.  Knickerbacker  was 
made  rector  of  the  church  of  Gethsemane,  by  Bishop  Whip- 
ple. Rev.  H.  M.  Nichols  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
Plymouth  church  at  about  the  same  time — Rev.  Norman  Mc- 


OF    MINNESOTA  AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  323 

Leod,  the  first  pastor,  having  accepted  a  call  in  Wisconsin. 

J.  M.  Brewer,  a  prominent  business  man,  died  in  St. 
Anthony  November  30.  He  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Luther  M. 
Brewer  of  A\  ilbraham,  Massachusetts. 

November  24lli  Chas.  M.  Cushraan  was  married  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Nichols  to  Miss  Era.  S.  Clarke. 

The  Minnesota  Beacon,  a  temperance  and  agricultural 
paper,  made  its  appearance  the  1st  of  December,  Messrs. 
Hyde  &  Williams,  proprietors  and  editors.  During  December 
there  was  quite  a  perceptible  improvement  in  money  matters. 
A  good  crop  had  been  raised  in  Minnesota.  The  merchants 
were  more  prosperous  in  the  two  cities.  In  St.  Anthony 
such  business  men  as  Josiah  H.  Chase,  H.  M.  Carpenter, 
Thos.  F.  Andrews,  and  John  S.  Pillsbury,  introduced  large 
stocks  of  goods,  and  many  Minneapolis  merchants,  includ- 
ing P.  H.  and  Anthony  Kelly,  so  well  known,  followed  in 
the  footsteps  of  their  friends  in  St.  Anthony.  The  medical 
fraternity  were  fortunate  in  the  latter  city  by  the  addition  of 
Dr.  S.  F.  Baukin  to  their  number.  Minneapolis  also  received 
valuable  citizens  in  the  persons  of  the  three  Harrison 
brothers  and  their  families  and  friends  who  accompanied  them. 
There  were  others  who  came  to  the  Falls  this  year,  including 
Hon.  O.  C.  Merriman,  and  Wm.  E.  Jones,  who  have  proved 
to  be  among  the  best  in  the  land.  On  the  whole  a  slight 
increase  in  the  population  was  observable  ;  perhaps  sufficient 
to  make  good  the  decrease  caused  by  those  who  emigrated 
on  account  of  the  hard  times  the  previous  year. 

The  vote  was  3,130  cast  in  Hennejoin  county  at  the  fall 
election,  of  wliich  St.  Anthony  polled  981,  Minneapolis  852, 
and  the  county  outside  of  the  cities  1,297. 

Captain  Merriman  and  Wm.  E.  Jones,  two  of  the  new 
arrivals,  became  largely  interested  in  lumber.  Both  were 
called  to  high  municipal  and  other  offices,  which  they  filled 
with  satisfaction  to  their  constituents.  Captain  Jonathan 
Chase,  who  preceded  Messrs.  Merriman  and  Jones  to  the 
county,  also  became  an  extensive  lumberman,  and  has 
repeatedly  held  high  positions  wath  honor  and  fidelity  to  his 
trusts. 


CHAPTEK  XLII. 

A  MOVEMENT  TO   UNITE   ST.    ANTHONY   AND   MINNEAPOLIS. 

Early  in  the  year  1860  there  was  a  very  general  movement 
by  residents  on  both  sides  of  the  river  towards  uniting  the 
two  cities  under  one  municipal  government.  The  question 
was  whether  a  first-class  city  should  exist  at  the  Falls,  or  two 
rival  towns.  At  a  public  meeting  held  in  the  court-house  with 
Col.  Wm.  M.  Kimball  iu  the  chair,  and  Mayor  K.  R.  Graves 
of  St.  Anthony,  secretary,  Mr.  Cornell  oflfered  a  series  of  res- 
olutions in  favor  of  a  single,  simple,  inexpensive  town-gov- 
ernment. Dr.  Chute  thought  that  not  only  the  two  cities 
should  be  united,  but  he  had  a  plan  to  organize  a  new  county 
to  consist  of  only  the  united  city  ;  having  only  one  set  of 
officers  to  perform  all  the  duties  of  city  and  county.  Mr. 
Hoag  offered  a  resolution  declaring  that  the  name  of  the  city 
when  united  should  be  Minneapolis.  This,  he  said,  would 
secure  votes  in  favor  of  the  union  from  those  who  were  now 
opposed  to  it.  Mr.  Murphy  hoped  the  consideration  of  the 
name  would  be  postponed  until  it  was  decided  whether  it 
would  be  for  the  interests  of  the  people  to  have  a  union.  Mr. 
Hoag  replying  to  Mr.  Murphy's  remarks  contended  that  Min- 
neapolis, under  her  name,  had  grown  twice  as  fast  as  St. 
Anthony.  It  was  the  county-seat,  and  to  retain  the  name 
would  require  no  changes  in  the  papers  already  recorded. 
In  common  with  nine-tenths  of  the  people  he  preferred  the 
name  ;  first  for  euphony  ;  second,  because  St.  Anthony  has  no 
significance  ;  and  third,  because  Minneapolis  is  named  twice 
throughout  the  world,  where  St.  Anthony  is  named  once. 
Minnesota  contains  more  saints,  in  name,  than  any  other  state 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND   ITS  PEOPLE.  325 

in  the  Union.  Mr.  Bradley  told  the  story  of  Polly  Jones,  and 
thought  we  had  better  wait  for  the  wedding  before  we  cried 
about  the  name.  Deacon  Harmon  had  yet  to  learn  what  Min- 
neapolis is  to  gain  by  the  union.  In  reference  to  the  name  to 
be  given  to  the  united  city,  Mr.  Cornell  said  that  he  did  not 
like  either  St.  Anthony  or  Minneapolis.  They  were  too  long 
for  convenience.  Kev.  Dr.  Horace  Bushnell  had  been  invited 
to  be  present  at  the  meeting,  and  he  said  he  never  declined 
an  invitation  to  a  wedding.  The  first  thing  that  struck  him 
with  surprise  on  coming  here  was  the  rivalry  and  jealousy 
by  which  these  two  cities  were  nullifying  their  influence. 
Just  as  a  family,  if  John  and  James  are  always  quarrelling, 
the  family  influence  is  gone.  With  the  two  towns  made  into 
one,  there  would  be  twenty  times  more  influence.  The  present 
policy  is' a  killing  one.  Make  a  park  of  Nicollet  island  after 
the  union.  If  a  new  name  is  to  be  selected,  he  would  suggest 
Minueaut,  or  Minneanton.  If  neither  of  these  suited,  try 
Miuneanthony.  Hon.  E.  M.  Wilson  was  in  favor  of  the  union 
of  the  two  cities  at  some  future  time — but  not  now.  Possibly 
the  postoffice  would  have  to  b.e  on  Nicollet  island.  When  the 
toll  on  the  suspension-bridge  was  abolished,  then  would  be 
the  proper  time  to  agitate  the  movement.  Dr.  Boutillier  said 
the  citizens  of  St.  Anthony  had  been  forced  to  an  annexation 
to  Hennepin  county  ;  now  they  were  in  favor  of  an  annexation 
of  the  two  towns.  After  further  consultation,  a  committee  on 
names  was  selected,  consisting  of  Charles  Hoag,  Dr.  A.  E. 
Ames,  E.  M.  Wilson,  P.  J.  Baldwin,  Edward  Murphy,  Nath. 
Kellogg,  P.  W.  Cummings,  A.  Blakeman,  Dr.  Boutillier,  'end 
Dr.  H.  BushnelL  A  committee  to  draft  a  charter  was  also 
appointed.  Messrs.  F.  P.  E.  Cornell,  P.  J.  Baldwin,  E.  B. 
Ames,  H.  B.  Hancock,  Henry  T.  AVelles,  John  Pollins,  Henry 
Hetchman,  N.  H.  Hemiup,  and  E.  A.  Raymond,  were  appointed 
members  of  it ;  when  the  meeting  adjourned  for  two  days. 
During  the  adjournment  the  excitement  became  great ;  sev- 
eral meetings  were  held,  and  unquestionably  the  movement 
would  have  been  successful  could  an  agreement  have  been 
made  in  regard  to  the  name  of  the  to  be  consolidated  city. 
The  citizens  of  St.  Anthony  insisted  on  St.  Anthony,  and 
those  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  wanted  Minneai:)olis  ; 
hence  after  a  good  deal  of  work,  excitement  and  bad-blood, 


326  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

the  movement  failed,  simply  because  neither  side  would  yield 
the  name  of  its  favorite  city. 

Edwin  Clarke,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Evening  News, 
was  married  New  Years  day  to  Miss  Ellen  F.  Kowe. 

It  was  extremely  sickly  at  the  commencement  of  the  New 
Tear.  There  were  many  cases  of  malignant  typhoid  fever. 
Rev.  Mr.  Hyde,  Harlow  A.  Gale,  Hon.  J.  P.  Abraham,  and 
many  others,  suffered  from  the  disease. 

A  new  board  of  regents  was  appointed  by  Governor  Ramsey, 
consisting  of  John  M.  Berry  of  Rice  county,  Jared  Benson  of 
Anoka,  E.  O.  Hamlin  of  Benton,  Col.  Wm.  M.  Kimball  and 
Uriah  Thomas  of  Hennepin. 

Rev.  A.  D.  Sanborn,  of  Dodge  county,  was  called  to  the 
Free-Will  Baptist  church  in  Minneapolis.  Business  was 
unusually  dull  during  the  winter.  Merchants,  bankers,  me- 
chanics, professional  as  well  as  laboring  men,  were  greatly 
discouraged.  A  law  passed  the  legislature  reorganizing  the 
Minnesota  agricultural  society.  On  the  fifth  of  March  an 
election  was  held  in  St.  Paul  for  the  officers'  of  the  society, 
which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the  old  officers,  viz. :  Charles 
Hoag  for  president,  J.  H.  Baker  of  Blue  Earth  for  secretary, 
and  J.  W.  Selby  of  Ramsey  for  treasurer. 

Early  in  the  spring  J.  B.  Bassett  &  Co.  purchased  the  pail 
and  tub  factory  from  Messrs.  Harmon  &  Eaton,  in  Minneapolis. 

The  Minneapolis  Athenaeum  was  incorporated  by  law  April 
2d.  The  first  officers  were  E.  S.  Jones,  president ;  Thomas 
Hale  Williams,  librarian  and  secretary  ;  the  other  officers 
were  David  Morgan,  AVm.  F.  Russell,  J.  S.  Young,  and  Col. 
Aldrich.  At  that  time  the  library  contained  only  three  hun- 
dred volumes 

At  the  spring  election  in  St.  Anthony  R.  P.  Graves  was 
elected  mayor,  and  John  B.  Gilfillan,  city  attorney  ;  D. 
Edwards,  assessor  ;  John  Babcock,  treasurer  ;  Solon  Arm- 
strong and  John  Henry,  trustees.  This  was  Mr.  Gilfillan's 
first  office  of  moment.  Through  subsequent  years,  by  his 
talent,  honesty  and  faithful  service,  he  was  honored  with 
many  high  trusts,  and  was  elected  to  congress. 

The  officers  elected  in  Minneapolis  were  Daniel  Bassett, 
B.  F.  Baker,  and  M.  S.  Hoblitt,  supervisors  ;  Cyrus  Beede, 
treasurer;  Cyrus  Snow,  town-clerk  ;  Collins  Hamer,  assessor; 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  327 

J.  C.  Williams  und  J.  F.  Bradley,  city  justices  ;  the  other 
officers  were  J.  M.  Anderson,  David  Morgan,  Joseph  LeDuc, 
and  E.  S.  Jones. 

April  5tli  the  Congregational  church  building  was  burned. 
It  was  the  work  of  an  incendiary.  There  was  much  excite- 
ment in  regard  to  its  destruction.  On  the  following  day  the 
people  met  in  mass  convention,  with  Dr.  Levi  Butler  in  the 
chair,  to  devise  measures  for  the  discovery  and  punishment 
of  the  parties  who  set  fire  to  the  building. 

John  S.  Pillsbury,  Dr.  J.  H.  Murphy,  O.  T.  Swett,  C. 
Crawford,  William  Lochran,  Kichard  Fewer,  Henry  Hetch- 
man,  and  E.  W.  Cutter,  were  the  members  of  the  new  board 
of  aldermen  in  St.  Anthony,  though  some  of  them  had  previ- 
ously held  seats  in  the  board.  This  was  the  real  commence- 
ment of  the  official  life  of  Mr.  Pillsbury.  He  served  his 
apprenticeship  in  official  duties  as  an  alderman  in  the  ancient 
town  of  St.  Anthony,  and  eventually  held  for  several  terms 
the  highest  office  in  the  gift  of  the  people  of  Minnesota.  It  is 
unnecessary  to  say  that  he  made  a  good  alderman.  Mr. 
Lochran,  who  has  so  faithfully  served  the  people  in  many 
high  trusts,  also  commenced  his  official  life  as  an  alderman 
in  St.  Anthony.  He  M'as  a  good  member  of  the  board.  For 
that  matter,  all  the  other  members  were  good  ones.  Ex- 
mayor  AV  W.  Wales  was  the  city  clerk  for  that  year. 

The  new  board  of  regents  of  the  University  met  in  St.  Paul 
April  5th  and  organized  by  the  election  of  Gov.  Alex.  Ramsey 
as  president,  Col.  W.  M.  Kimball  as  treasurer,  and  Uriah 
Thomas  as  secretary. 

A.  A.  Clement  leased  the  Nicollet  house  this  spring. 

Messrs.  Robert  W.  Cummings,  Dr.  H.  Fletcher,  William 
Finch,  Dennis  Schmitz,  and  J.  B.  Hinckley,  were  elected 
county  commissioners  under  the  new  law,  at  a  special  election 
in  April,  for  Hennepin  county. 

Hon.  U.  S.  Willey,  a  leading  lawyer  and  member  of  the 
house  of  representatives  in  this  state,  died  at  Forest  city. 
Colonel  Willey  had  formerly  resided  in  Minneapolis. 

During  the  recent  session  of  the  legislature  a  law  was 
enacted  in  relation  to  educational  matters  of  the  city,  giving 
power  to  the  board  that  had  not  been  previously  given  to  the 
trustees  of  the  district-school.     At  the  first  election  held  in 


328  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

May  of  this  year,  Orrin  Curtis  was  elected  president  of  the 
board  ;  C.  Crawford,  secretary  ;  and  Dr.  S.  F.  Rankin,  treas- 
urer. Great  progress  was  made  in  the  education  of  the  chil- 
dren under  this  organization.  Prof.  Chase  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  corps  of  teachers  of  the  union  schools  in 
Minneapolis  this  spring. 

June  1st  Wm.  S.  Chapman  was  appointed  deputy  U.  S. 
marshal  for  Hennepin  county,  in  which  capacity  he  was  to 
take  the  census  of  Hennepin  county. 

On  the  10th  of  June  the  whole  row  of  buildings  from  First 
street  to  Second  street  was  destroyed  by  fire.  This  was  the 
most  extensive  fire  that  had  ever  occurred  in  the  state..  The 
sufferers  were  Martin  Ferrant,  W.  E.  Johnson,  L.  Ford,  H. 
D.  Wheelock,  D.  Y.  Jones  &  Co.,  J.  Miller,  John  I.  Black,  C. 
B.  Sanborn,  Amos  Clarke,  Dr.  A.  L.  Bausmau,  C.  S.  Webster, 
Isaac  B.  Edwards,  Hopper  &  Gould,  Curtis  H.  Pettit,  John 
Lee,  L.  H.  Williams,  J.  H.  Thompson,  Samuel  Hidden, 
Vrooman  &  Crocker,  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Leonard  &  Co.,  B.  F.  Baker, 
John  E.  Bell  &  Co.,  Wheeler  &  Nutting,  Gale  &  King,  and 
Thomas  Hale  Williams. 

July  1st  Geo.  Galpin's  new  boat  steamed  from  Excelsior  to 
Wayzata.  This  was  the  first  steamboat  navigation  on  Lake 
Minnetonka. 

On  the  4th  day  of  July  an  accident  occurred  at  Lake  Cal- 
houn, which  carried  sorrow  and  mourning  to  almost  the  entire 
community  at  the  Falls.  The  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church.  Rev.  H.  M.  Nichols,  his  wife,  and  son  aged  twelve 
years  ;  his  brother-in-law,  Hon.  Arba  Cleveland,  and  his  two 
children  aged  eleven  and  thirteen  years,  were  drowned  in  the 
lake.  Mr.  Nichols  was  one  of  the  most  pleasing  speakers  of 
the  day,  and  greatly  respected  by  all  classes. 

On  the  8th,  Frank,  only  son  of  O.  C.  Merriman,  died  in  St. 
Anthony. 

On  the  22d  of  July  Rev.  Joseph  E.  Manton,  of  Quincy, 
Illinois,  occupied  the  pulpit  of  the  First  Baptist  church. 
Afterwards  Mr.  Manton  became  pastor  of  the  church,  and  has 
continually  been  a  resident  of  Hennepin  county  since. 

On  the  24tli,  James  E.  Lawrence,  the  district-attorney,  who 
resided  in  St.  Anthony,  moved  to  ('hicago. 

Political  clubs  of  every  description  were  organized  in  Hen. 


OF  MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  329 

iiepin  county  this  year.  There  was  a  Lincom  club,  a  Douglas 
<-lub,  a  Breckenridge  club,  a  Bell  club,  in  favor  of  the  candi- 
dates for  President,  in  almost  every  township.  The  liveliest 
organization  at  the  Falls  was  the  "Wide- Awakes,  which  the 
warm  winds  of  August  incubated-  Among  the  members  were 
Geo.  A.  Brackett,  John  G.  Williams,  Harlow  A.  Gale,  Dr.  A. 
L.  Bausnian,  Benj.  S.  Bull,  F.  R.  E.  Cornell,  David  C.  Bell, 
Wm.  8.  King,  C.  H.  Pettit,  O.  M.  Laraway,  J.  D.  Gray,  Col- 
lins Hauler,  John  E.  Bell,  with  Samuel  C.  Gale  for  president, 
and  J.  AV.  Wolverton  for  secretary. 

Loren  Fletcher  came  to  the  city  this  summer  and  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  dry-goods  store  of  L.  F.  Allen. 

On  the  13th  of  August  Mrs.  Dr.  Fletcher,  one  of  the  pio- 
neer ladies  of  Minneapolis,  died. 

ABOLITION  EXCITEMENT. 

On  the  21st  great  excitement  was  caused  at  the  Falls,  and 
for  that  matter  throughout  the  state,  in  consequence  of  W.  D. 
Babbitt,  a  Mrs.  Gates,  and  Mrs.  Gray  making  complaint 
before  the  district  court  that  one  Eliza  O.  Winston,  a  slave, 
the  property  of  Col.  B.  Christmas  of  Issaquena,  Mississippi, 
was  restrained  of  her  liberty  by  her  master,  at  the  residence 
of  Mrs.  Thornton,  Lake  Harriet,  where  the  parties  were  tem- 
porarily residing.  The  writ  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
sheriff,  Eichard  Strout,  for  service  and  that  officer  brought 
Eliza  and  Col.  Christmas  before  Judge  Vanderburgh.  F.  R. 
E.  Cornell  appeared  for  the  complainants.  Col.  Christmas 
made  no  attempt  at  a.  defense,  v/hen  the  court  ordered  the 
girl  to  be  discharged  from  the  custody  of  the  sheriff  ;  after 
which  Col.  Christmas  asked  the  girl  if  she  would  go  with  him, 
and  she  replied  that  she  would.  In  the  meantime  Messrs. 
Babbitt;  Bigelow,  and  others,  gathered  around  her.  Colonel 
Christmas  asked  her  a  second  time  if  she  would  return  with 
him  to  her  mistress.  She  said  she  would,  but  not  at  that 
time,  and  would  go  out  to  Mrs.  Thornton's  the  next  day.  She 
left  the  court-house  in  company  with  the  complainants,  and 
it  is  supposed  made  her  way  to  Canada. 

The  Methodist  annual  conference  was  held  this  year  in 
Red  Wing.  Rev.  J.  F.  Chaffee  was  assigned  for  the  year  to 
Minneapolis,  and  Rev.  John  W.  Clipper  to  St.  Anthony. 

The  Wide-Awakes  had  done  such  good   service  in  Minne- 


330  PERSONAL  EECOLLECTIONS 

apolis,  that  the  Kepiiblicans  perfected  an  organization  in  St 
Anthony  with  D.  A.  Secombe,  president,  and  H.  O.  Hamlin, 
secretary. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  Senator  Wm.  H.  Seward,  Chas. 
Francis  Adams,  and  General  Nye,  visited  Minneapolis. 

The  state  fair  was  held  at  Fort  Snelling  September  26,  27 
and  28.  The  annual  address  was  delivered  by  Cassius  M. 
Clay  of  Kentucky.  The  officers  were  Charles  Hoag,  presi- 
dent, J.  H.  Baker  secretary,  and  W.  F.  Wheeler  superintend'! 

October  10th  John  L.  Lovejoy,  a  prominent  citizen,  died 
in  St.  Anthony,  greatly  regretted. 

At  the  general  election  lield  November  6th,  1860,  2,525 
votes  were  polled  in  Hennepin  county,  against  3,130  the 
previous  year.  The  officers  elected  were  John  A.  Armstrong, 
sheriff  ;  Geo.  W.  Chowen,  register  of  deeds  ;  Harlow  A. 
Gale,  auditor  ;  S.  H.  King,  surveyor  ;  Geo.  E.  H.  Day,  coro- 
ner ;  L.  Bostwick,  court-commissioner ;  W,  W.  McNair, 
county-attorney  ;  and  Rufus  J.  Baldwin  was  elected  senator, 
and  F.  B.  E.  Cornell,  and  W.  Hayden,  members  of  the  house. 
On  the  east  side  David  Heaton  was  elected  senator.  St. 
Anthony  being  attached  to  Anoka  and  Isanti  counties,  the 
members  of  the  house  were  from  those  counties.  A  new 
board  of  county  commissioners  was  elected  for  1861,  consist- 
ing of  Ezra  Hanscombe,  James  Sully,  A.  Blakeman,  J.  B. 
Hinkley,  and  "William  Finch. 

On  the  20th  of  November  Hon.  Martin  McLeod  died  at  his 
Oak  Grove  residence,  aged  47  years. 

Navigation  closed  this  year  on  the  24th  day  of  November. 

On  the  27th  of  this  month  the  daily  Atlas  made  its  appear- 
ance in  Minneapolis,  and  a  few  days  afterward  the  St.  Anthony 
evening  News  resumed  its  daily,  while  the  Plaindealer  was 
moved  from  Minneapolis  to  La  Crescent.  , 

The  vote  in  the  county  was  605  less  than  the  previous  year. 
There  were  few  additions  to  the  population  by  immigration. 
On  the  other  hand  many  persons  belonging  to  the  floating 
population  left  the  county.  This  was  in  consequence  of  the 
continuation  of  the  dreadful  stringency  in  the  money  market. 
About  all  the  transactions  in  real-estate  were  forced  sales,  in 
which  the  courts  had  almost  complete  control.  Mortgage 
foreclosures  were  numerous. 


OF   MINNESOTA  AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  331 

Alonzo  H.  Beal  established  this  year  a  first-class  photograph 
gallery. 

The  shrinkagt'  in  the  value  of  property  at  the  Falls  since 
September,  1857,  had  been  marvelous,  but  at  the  close  of  1860 
a  reaction  had  taken  i)lace  ;  at  least  prices  in  real-estate  had 
reached  the  bottom,  and  from  that  period  a  gradual  increase 
in  the  price  of  real-estate  was  observable.  Kichard  Martin, 
esq.,  the  first  banker  in  St.  Anthony,  having  established  his 
business  in  that  city  as  early  as  1854,  loaned  large  sums  of 
money,  much  of  it  secured  on  real-estate.  In  time  he  col- 
lected his  loans.  In  October,  1857,  Messrs.  J.  K.  Sidle  &  Co. 
opened  in  Minneapolis  a  similar  business  to  that  of  Mr. 
Martin  in  St.  Anthony.  This  firm  also  loaned  out  large  sums 
of  money  without  meeting  any  loss  in  their  transactions. 
These  facts  are  only  mentioned  for  the  purpose  of  showing 
that  the  crisis  from  1857  to  1860,  severe  as  it  was,  did  not 
totally  destroy  the  business  at  the  Falls. 

As  the  new  year  approached  the  citizens  of  the  two  cities 
made  the  usual  arrangements  for  lectures  and  lyceums  for  the 
winter  months.  The  strictest  economy  was  observed  in  all 
matters,  to  the  extent  of  giving  up  many  of  the  luxuries  of 
life.     Hard  times  ruled  supreme. 


CHAPTER  XLin. 

EIGHTEEN  HUNDEED  AND   SIXTY-ONE. 

The  first  day  o£  the  year  was  generally  observed  as  a  holiday 
by  the  people  of  the  two  cities.  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
board  of  trade  Joel  B.  Bassett  was  elected  president,  Edward 
Murphy  and  Orrin  Curtis,  vice-presidents  ;  Owen  T.  Swett,  O. 
M.  Larraway,  J.  H.  Talbot,  Joseph  Van  Enman,  and  J.  B. 
Bassett,  directors.  The  news  of  the  firing  of  the  first  gun  on 
Fort  Sumter,  January  9th,  by  the  South  Carolina  authorities, 
was  received  by  telegraph  on  the  evening  of  that  day.  The 
universal  sentiment  of  all  parties  found  expression  at  the  Falls 
in  "  The  Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved  !"  and  from  that 
eventful  evening  until  the  close  of  the  war,  St.  Anthony,  Min- 
neapolis, and  Hennepin  county,  as  well  as  the  whole  state  of 
Minnesota,  did  their  whole  duty. 

On  January  17th  J.  Fletcher  Williams,  who  had  been  city 
editor  of  the  Minnesotian,  presented  his  valedictory  to  the 
readers  of  that  paper  and  transferred  his  pen  to  the  Pioneer. 

A  military  company  was  organized  in  Minneapolis  with  W. 
D.  "Washburn,  captain  ;  H.  A.  Partridge,  Fred  Chalmers,  and 
C.  H.  Woods,  lieutenants. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  state  agricultural  society  was  held* 
in  St.  Paul,  February  4th.     Charles  Hoag  was  re-elected  pres- 
ident ;  L.  M.  Ford,  secretary  ;  J.  W.  Selby,  treasurer  ;  exec- 
utive committee.  Gen.  Alex.  Chambers,  Wm.  L.  Ames,  J.  H. 
Baker,  Jared  Benson,  John  W.   North,  and  John  H.  Stevens. 

Baldwin  Brown,  who  came  to  St.  Anthony  with  his  step- 
father, John  Hingston,  in  1849,  and  who  has  been  one  of  the 
most  useful  citizens  from  that  day  to  this,  commenced  building 


OF   MINNESOTA  AND   ITS  PEOPLE.  333 

a  steamboat  for  the  upper  river  trade.  This  enterprise  gave 
employment  to  many  workmen  during  the  dull  times  of  that 
severe  winter  While  the  jjeople  on  both  sides  of  the  river 
were  obliged  to  use  the  utmost  economy,  they  contributed 
for  those  who  were  worse  off  than  they  in  this  world's  goods. 
When  news  was  received  that  there  was  great  sutt'ering  in 
Kansas  for  want  of  food,  Dr.  Murphy,  J.  C.  McCain,  David 
Lewis,  AV.  Bowman,  John  Rollins,  Richard  Chute,  and  Dr.  S. 
H.  Chute,  in  St.  Anthony,  and  E.  S.  Jones,  Daniel  Bassett, 
H.  L.  Birge,  and  Geo.  W.  Chowen,  in  Minneapolis,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  raise  funds  for  the  relief  of  the 
people  of  Kansas.  The  joint  committee  had  the  pleasure  of 
sending  over  one  thousand  dollars  to  that  section  of  the 
Union.  This  would  be  considered  but  a  pittance  these  days, 
but  then  a  thousand  dollars  was  equal  to  many  thousands  now. 

On  the  17th  of  February  the  publication  of  the  daily  edition 
of  the  Atlas  was  discontinued. 

February  23  Rev.  E.  D.  Neill  resigned  the  office  of  chan- 
celor  of  the  University. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  new  postmasters  would  be  appointed 
in  the  two  cities  by  the  incoming  administration,  soon  after 
the  4th  of  March  the  republicans  held  elections  for  a  choice. 
The  result  in  St.  Anthony  was  :  W.  W^  Wales  108  votes,  L. 
H.  Lennon  89  votes  ;  in  Minneapolis,  John  S.  AValker  283, 
D.  Bassett  193,  Cyrus  Snow  12,  and  Captain  Putnam  9. 
President  Lincoln  appointed  D.  Heaton  in  St.  Anthony. 
David  Morgan  was  appointed  in  Minneapolis.  He  was  not  a 
candidate  before  the  peojjle. 

The  people  of  the  two  cities  were  kindly  remembered  by 
the  administration  after  the  4th  of  March,  as  John  Hutchin- 
son, a  resident  of  Minneapolis,  received  the  appointment  of 
secretary  of  Dakota,  and  W^.  D.  W^ashburn  was  made  surveyor- 
general  of  Minnesota,  while  Lucius  C.  W^alker  of  St.  Anthony 
was  appointed  agent  of  the  Chippewa  Indians. 

At  the  annual  spring  election  in  St.  Anthony  Hon.  O.  C. 
Merriman  was  elected  mayor  ;  D,  B.  Bowman,  treasurer  ; 
D.  Edwards,  assessor  ;  J.  H.  Noble,  marshal ;  Chas.  F. 
Stimson,  supervisor  ;  Messrs.  Peter  Weingart,  Richard 
Fewer,  Qwen  T.  Swett,  and  J.  S.  Pillsbury,  re-elected  alder- 
men.    Members  of  the  board   of  school  directors  were  S.  H. 


334  PERSONAL    EECOLLECTIONS 

Chute,  J.  B.  Gilbert,  and  Charles  Henry.  The  election  of 
town  officers  in  Minneapolis,  held  April  2d,  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Collins  Hamer,  chairman  ;  and  J.  H.  Thompson, 
and  E.  B.  Ames,  supervisors  ;  Geo.  A.  Savory,  clerk  ;  D.  B. 
Barber,  assessor  ;  and  J.  P.  Howlett,  treasurer. 

The  large  mill  owned  by  J.  B.  Bassett  was  burned  April  2. 
There  was  some  4,000  bushels  of  wheat  belonging  to  C.  Hamer 
and  John  E.  Bell,  stored  in  it,  which  was  destroyed.  I  have 
often  wondered  if  ever  another  western  town  suffered  as  much 
from  fires  as  did  Minneapolis. 

On  the  13th  of  April  the  daily  evening  News  ceased  to  exist. 
Several  years  after  this  date  I  was  associated  in  the  pub- 
lication of  a  daily  and  weekly  newspaper  with  three  of  the 
young  men  who  were  on  the  News  at  the  time  of  its  suspension. 
I  refer  to  Col  Le  Vinne  Plummer,  Fred.  L.  Smith,  and  Wil- 
lard  S.  Whitemore. 

The  returns  of  the  assessors  this  spring  showed  that  the 
personal  property  in  Hennepin  county  amounted  to  $560,366, 
of  which  St.  Anthony  had  $146,325,  and  Minneapolis  $302,411. 
Outside  of  the  cities  $11,630.  The  real  estate  in  St.  Anthony 
amounted  to  $800,992,  in  Minneapolis  $1,054,812. 

War  was  at  hand,  and  military  organizations  were  the  order 
of  the  day.  People  at  the  Falls  determined  to  be  the  first  in 
their  efforts  to  preserve  the  whole  Union.  For  all  time  to 
come  the  community  in  this  neighborhood  should  be  proud 
of  the  noble  record  of  the  citizens  of  Hennepin  county  in  the 
trying  times  of  the  spring  and  summer  of  1861.  A  company 
was  raised  at  once  in  St.  Anthony,  another  in  Minneapolis, 
the  former  under  the  command  of  Captain  Geo.  N.  Morgan, 
the  latter  under  Captain  Harry  R.  Putnam.  Captain  Morgan 
became  one  of  the  most  efficient  officers  in  the  army,  and 
rapidly  rose  by  merit  to  the  rank  of  general,  while  Captain 
Putnam  was  transferred  from  the  vohmteer  to  the  regular' 
service.  He  too  became  an  officer  of  high  rank.  Mayor  O. 
C.  Merriman  of  St.  Anthony,  and  other  influential  citizens,  on 
both  sides  of  the  river,  were  active  in  every  possible  way  in 
aiding  the  volunteers.  Captain  Merriman  may  be  properly 
be  called  the  war-mayor  of  St.  Anthony.  He  has  ever  since 
his  residence  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  taken  an  active  part 
in  all  measures  that  would  be  a  benefit  to  to  the  vicinity  of  the 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  335 

Falls,  as  well  as  the  whole  countiy.  All  party  feelings  were 
thrown  aside  during  these  exciting  times.  The  raising  of 
troops  for  the  war  absorbed  every  other  interest. 

In  addition  to  those  already  mentioned,  the  following  resi- 
dents at  the  Falls  received  Federal  appointments  :  Dana  E. 
King,  register  of  the  U.  S.  land-office  at  Forest  city  ;  Delano 
T.  Smith,  third  auditor  of  the  treasury  department  at  Wash- 
ington ;  Geo.  E.  H.  Day,  Indian  agent  east  of  the  Rocky 
mountains  ;  and  Rev.  C.  G.  Ames,  Consul  at  Porto  Rico. 

Several  parties  from  this  vicinity  had  wintered  in  the  south 
and  were  obliged  to  leave  the  confederacy  in  haste  ;  among 
them  were  Dr.  Geo.  H.  Keith  and  John  Kyrk. 

J.  Mason  Eustis  was  appointed  contractor  at  Fort  Snelling. 
Messrs.  Geo.  A.  Bracket  and  H.  H.  Brackett  were  associated 
with  him. 

Then,  as  now%  wheat  was  a  great  staple  at  the  Falls.  Early 
in  May  William  Blaisdell  sold  two  thousand  bushels  to  Messrs. 
Gibson  &  Eastman  for  seventy  cents  per  bushel.  At  that 
time  this  was  considered  a  large  price.  It  was  thought  that 
in  consequence  of  the  war  the  price  of  wheat  would  advance, 
but  instead  of  an  upward  tendency  it  fell  the  following  fall  to 
forty-eight  cents  per  bushel. 

On  the  27th  of  May  Daniel  Bassett  died.  He  was  the 
father  of  Judge  Joel  B.  Bassett,  Daniel  Bassett,  jr.,  and  Mrs. 
Joseph  H.  Canney. 

At  the  municipal  election  held  at  Minneapolis  in  May  S.  H. 
Mattison  was  elected  president  of  the  board  of  supervisors. 
The  other  members  of  the  board  were  J.  H.  Jones,  John  E. 
Bell,  E,  H.  Davie,  and  E.  Hedderly.  There  was  a  new  school 
board  elected  this  spring.  The  members  were  O.  B.  King, 
David  Morgan,  T.  A.  Harrison,  Isaac  Atwater,  with  Rev.  D. 
B.  Knickerbacker,  secretary.  Several  new  teachers  were 
employed.  The  able  corps  were  Prof.  Geo.  B.  Stone,  prin- 
cipal ;  assistant  principal.  Miss  L.  M.  Rogers,  of  New  Hamp- 
shire ;  Miss  Boutwell,  Miss  Walcott,  Miss  Sarah  L.  Jones, 
Mrs.  Pomeroy,  Mrs.  Rice,  Miss  Hoyt,  Miss  Clark,  and  Mr. 
D.  Folsom. 

The  streets  in  Minneapolis  were  in  bad  condition  this  year. 
Complaints  were  made  July  3  to  president  Mattison  of  the 
supervisors  that  the  hill  near  Barber's  on  Helen  and  Fourth 


336  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

streets  was  so  badly  gulled  as  to  be  impassable  for  carriages. 
A  person  at  this  time  would  hardly  suppose  that  there  had 
ever  been  a  steep  hill  at  the  corner  of  Second  avenue  south 
and  Fourth  street. 

The  deputy  county-treasurer,  John  Morrison,  died  July  14. 

Nathan  Herrick  sold  to  farmers  24  reapers  up  to  July  14 
He  was  the  pioneer  in  the  farm-implement  and  marble  business. 

Loren  Fletcher  became  associated  about  this  time  with 
Chas.  M.  Loring.     This  progressive  firm  became  prominent. 

The  Downs  brothers,  Henry,  Thomas  and  John  who  had  for 
several  years  resided  with  their  parents  at  Lake  Calhoun,  now 
took  honorable  rank  as  citizens  in  business  for  themselves. 

Business  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river  was  increased  during 
the  season  in  additions  to  the  retail  trade  by  John  I.  Black, 
John  E.  Bell,  and  others,  and  merchant  tailoring  establish- 
ments by  J.  H.  Thompson  and  Peter  Schraj^pel. 

Cyrus  Aldrich,  M.  C,  appointed  David  Cooper  Bell,  of  the 
firm  of  John  E.  Bell  &  Co.,  his  private  secretary.  This  took 
Mr.  Bell  to  Washington,  where  a  new  phase  of  life  was  opened 
to  him  during  that  stormy  congress.  He  became  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Minneapolis,  and  his  good  deeds  will  be  held  in  last- 
ing remembrance.  He  has  borne  an  honorable  part  in  the 
upbuilding  of  this  great  city  from  a  frontier  village.  On  his 
father's  side,  he  is  of  Scotch-Irish  stock.  On  his  mother's 
side  he  is  of  New  England  ancestry,  and  his  grandfather 
Owen  Cooper  lived  to  complete  a  full  century,  having  passed 
his  one  hundredth  birthday. 

September  1st  Samuel  Thatcher  of  St.  Anthony  died.  In 
his  death  the   pioneers  in  this  vicinity  met  with  a  great  loss. 

OFFICERS     ELECTED    IN    EIGHTEEN    HUNDRED   AND     SIXTY-ONE. 

The  officers  elected  for  the  year  in  Hennepin  county  were 
A.  Blakeman,  Henry  S.  Plummer,  D.  R.  Barber,  Wm.  Finch, 
and  J.  B.  Hinckley,  county  commissioners  ;  N.  H.  Hemiup, 
judge  of  probate  ;  H.  O.  Hamlin,  clerk  of  the  district  court ; 
John  S.  AValker,  county-treasurer  ;  and  Isaac  Brown,  coroner. 
For  the  legislature,  Rufus  J.  Baldwin,  senator ;  F.  R.  E. 
Cornell,  and  John  C.  Past,  members  of  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives. St.  Anthony,  David  Heaton,  senator ;  Jared 
Benson  and  J.  H.  Allen,  members  of  the  house. 

There  were  several  changes  in  the  newspapers  during  the 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  337 

fall.  J.  B.  King  and  Geo.  D.  Bowman  were  at  one  time  editors 
of  the  Atlas.  On  the  30th  of  October  the  old  Express  was 
sold,  root  and  branch,  to  John  L.  Maconald  of  Belle  Plaine, 
who  issued  the  Enquirer  with  the  old  material.  This  was  Mr. 
Macdonald's  first  enterprise  in  Minnesota.  He  has  since  been 
state  senator,  member  of  the  state  house  of  reju-esentatives, 
judge  of  the  district  court,  and  member  of  congress. 

A   DOUBLE-WEDDING. 

On  the  4th  of  November  there  was  a  double-wedding  in 
Minneapolis,  Mr.  Lucius  A.  Babcock  was  married  to  Miss 
Ellen  M.  Sully,  and  Mr.  Seymour  L.  Fillmore  was  married  to 
Miss  Annie  Sully.  The  brides  were  sisters,  and  daughters  of 
Deacon  James  Sully  of  Minneapolis. 

Mr.  Fillmore  enlisted  in  the  volunteer  service  of  the  war 
for  the  Union,  and  died  of  camp-fever  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Mr.  Babcock  also  entered  the  Union  army,  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Guntown,  Mississippi,  and  died  in  Anderson- 
ville  prison  on  the  second  birthday  of  his  son  Charles  N. 
Babcock  who  is  now  an  excellent  lawyer  in  Minneapolis. 
He  was  buried  in  the  Andersonville  cemetery.  His  eldest 
brother  was  a  brigadier-general  of  Northern  troops,  was 
wounded  while  leading  a  charge  at  the  battle  of  Winchester, 
and  died  after  having  both  legs  amputated.  The  youngest 
and  only  remaining  brother,  a  lieutenant  in  the  Union  army, 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  The  Babcock  brothers 
were  cousins  of  Judge  Isaac  Atwater. 

Mrs.  Fillmore  and  Mrs.  Babcock  reside  in  Minneapolis 
to-day,  one  in  and  the  other  near  their  early  home. 

In  addition  to  those  already  in  the  field,  there  were,  during 
the  summer  and  autumn,  a  great  many  soldiers  enlisted  in  the 
volunteer  service  from  St.  Anthony  and  Minneapolis,  as  well 
as  from  Hennepin  county.  Dr.  Levi  Butler  raised  a  whole 
company  from  the  county  precincts,  for  the  Third  regiment, 
and  there  were  equally  as  many  more  enlisted  in  the  Second 
regiment  which  was  organized  early  in  July,  and  a  number  of 
men  were  sent  during  the  year  to  the  First  regiment. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

mb.  and  mrs.  m.  n.  adams  as  missionaries  and  old-settlers. 

Goodwill  Mission,  Sisseton  Agency,  South  Dakota, 

May  24tli,  1889. 

In  compliance  witli  your  most  reasonable  request,  I  would 
respectfully  submit  the  following  statement  of  facts,  to  wit  : 
I  was  born  February  14tli,  1822,  at  Sandy  Springs,  Adams 
comity,  Ohio  ;  received  my  collegiate  education  at  Ripley, 
and  my  theological  training  at  Lane  Theological  Seminary, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  graduating  in  June,  1848. 

Mrs.  Adams,  whose  maiden  name  was  Rankin,  daughter  of 
James  Rankin,  was  born  December  19th,  1827,  near  Knox- 
ville.  East  Tennessee  ;  educated  at  Ripley,  Ohio,  and  Mission 
Institute,  Quincy,  Illinois,  where  we  were  married  July  9th, 
1848  ;  and  having  been  commissioned  as  missionaries  of  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  to 
the  Sioux  or  Dakota  Indians,  we  embarked  on  board  of  a 
Mississippi  river  steamer,  for  Fort  Snelling,  Iowa  Territory, 
as  it  was  then  known. 

On  arriving  at  Galena,  Illinois,  the  last  of  the  week,  we 
rested  there  until  after  the  Sabbath,  according  to  the  Fourth 
Commandment  ;  and  on  resuming  our  journey  by  the  first 
boat  for  St.  Paul,  leaving  Galena,  we  arrived  at  St.  Paul  Jvly 
24th,  1848,  and  Ft.  Snelling  at  noon  the  same  day, 

St.  Paul  was  then  only  a  wayside-landing,  with  one  small 
trading-post,  with  a  few  trinkets  and  Indian  curiosities  in 
store  ;  and  there  were  less  than  half-a-dozen  resident  white 
families  there. 

Fort  Snelling,  and  H.  H.  Sibley's  trading  post  at  Mendota, 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  339 

were  then  regarded  as  the  head  of  navigatiou.  Our  boat,  on 
which  we  6hipi)ed  our  household  goods,  and  supplies  for  one 
year  -only,  reached  the  foot  of  the  island  opposite  Mendota, 
from  which  point  the  freight  was  transferred  to  Fort  Snelling 
in  barges,  by  the  steamer's  crew. 

During  our  detention,  awaiting  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Dakota  Mission,  at  Kaposia,  Dr.  T.  S.  Williamson's  station, 
in  the  autumn  of  1848,  Mrs.  Adams  and  I  applied  ourselves 
to  the  study  of  the  Sioux  or  Dakota  language,  the  customs  and 
practices  and  character  of  the  natives,  among  whom  we  were 
to  live  and  labor  as  missionaries  ;  and  for  the  time  being  were 
kindly  and  hospitably  entertained  at  the  mission  home  of  Rev. 
T.  S.  AYilliamson  at  Kaposia,  four  miles  below  St.  Paul,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi  river. 

Meantime  I  reconnoitered  the  field,  visited  Red  Rock,  and 
held  services  at  St.  Paul  and  Grey  Cloud  Island,  reaching  the 
latter  by  an  overland  route,  on  horseback,  guided  over  a 
trackless  prairie  by  a  pocket-compass  to  a  point  opjjosite  the 
island,  where  I  was  kindly  met  by  one  Mr.  John  Brown,  who 
safely  transferred  me  across  (in  a  small  canoe)  to  his  island 
home,  while  I  swam  my  horse  alongside  of  the  canoe,  and  in 
like  manner  returned  after  the  Sabbath. 

In  like  manner,  in  filling  an  appointment  to  preach  at  St. 
Paul,  I  rode  on  horseback  to  a  clump  of  grape-vines  and 
bushes  opposite  St.  Paul,  where  I  tied  out  my  horse,  and  was 
ferried  over  in  an  Indian  canoe,  in  the  morning,  and  after 
service  was  returned  in  the  afternoon  in  like  manner  by  an 
Indian's  kindness.  The  Divine  services  were  then  held  in  St. 
Paul  in  the  primitive  log  schoolhouse.  On  that  day  ( to  which 
I  especially  refer)  we  had  only  about  twelve  adult  English- 
speaking  people,  and  fifteen  or  eighteen  children,  at  that 
service  ;  which  comprised  about  all  the  English-speaking 
people  of  that  small  village  of  St.  Paul,  where  now  there  is  a 
population  of  upwards  of  two  hundred  thousand— a  city  of 
schoolhouses  and  consecrated  churches. 

At  another  time  I  accompanied  the  venerable  Dr.  T.  S. 
Williamson,  who  held  Divine  service  in  the  house  of  one 
Hosea,  a  Canadian  Frenchman  who  had  married  a  Dakota 
woman,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  mission  church  at 
Lacquiparle  ;  and  at  that  Sabbath  afternoon  service,  in  the 


340  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Dakota  langiiage,  there  were  only  about  lialf-a-dozen  adults, 
and  a  like  number  of  native  cliildren,  present. 

At  that  time  Minneapolis,  on  the  west  side,  was  not  founded, 
and  no  improvements  there,  except  a  small  saw-mill  guarded 
by  a  soldier  of  the  U.  S.  army  detailed  on  that  special  duty. 
The  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  and  Minnehaha  were  then  in  their 
primitive  beauty  and  grandeur,  and  the  little  village  of  St. 
Anthony  did  not  then  amount  to  much  more  than  a  mere 
portage-encampment  for  lumbermen  and  fur-traders  of  the 
upper  Mississij^i^i  country. 

Fort  Snelling  Vv'as  then  quite  a  military  post  ;  a  small  U.  S. 
garrison,  but  important,  for  the  national  flag  was  there  dis- 
played, signaling  the  fact  that  there  was  power  on  the  part  of 
the  U.  S.  government  ;  and  that  was  usually  respected,  altho' 
sometimes  contemned  by  Indian  braves  who  gloried  more  in 
an  eagle-feather  of  a  certain  description,  those  times,  than  in 
the  Flag  of  our  Union. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  our  Dakota  Mission,  held  at 
Kaposia  in  September,  1848,  it  was  decided  that  myself  and 
wife  should  go  to  Lacquiparle  mission  station,  and  unite  with 
Rev.  S.  E.  Riggs  in  mission  work  among  the  Sisseton  and 
Wahpeton  Sioux  or  Dakotas  of  that  region  ;  in  which  we  most 
heartily  concurred.  Accordingly  on  the  19th  day  of  Septem- 
ber, 1848,  we  set  out  from  Kaposia  station  via  Ft.  Snelling, 
Oak  Grove,  Shakopee  and  Traverse-des-Sioux.  Owing  to  the 
want  of  roads,  bridges  and  ferries,  those  times,  this  was  a 
difficult  and  tedious  overland  route.  Yet  it  was  not  without 
occasional  episodes  and  little  diversions  ;  as  when  a  rawhide 
tug-strap  broke  and  let  the  patient  ox  out,  and  the  two- wheel 
cart  tilt  back  on  a  steep  hillside  grade,  dumping  the  wives  of 
the  missionaries,  with  their  children,  baggage  and  all,  out  in 
a  rolling  attitude  toM'ard  the  overflowing  brook  below  ;  and 
amid  the  cries  from  the  frightful  disaster,  and  the  joyful 
exclamations  that  after  all  no  one  was  seriously  hurt,  all  was 
gathered  up,  restored,  and  the  journey  resumed,  with  heart- 
felt thankfulness  that  only  that  had  happened  us. 

Then  again,  as  we  journeyed  in  road  and  without  roads,  we 
encountered  one  of  those  bottomless  sloughs,  partly  covered 
over  with  a  mere  tuft  of  grasses,  when  suddenly  one  of  our 
oxen  broke  through  the  grass  covering  and  went  down  in  the 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  341 

marsh,  or  bog,  up  to  his  sides,  and  bello-wcd  like  a  calf  for 
fear  that  would  be  his  grave  ;  and  our  women  and  children 
fearing  the  same  fate,  jum])ed  from  the  mission  cart  and  ran 
from  tuft  to  tuft  until  they  reached  terra  firma  ;  and  then,  on 
seeing  how  soon  we  roped  the  poor  ox  and  the  cart  out  of  the 
slough,  and  reloaded,  concluded  that  that  was  an  eventful  day 
when  we  went  from  Oak  Grove  mission  station  to  Shakopee. 

But  we  had  not  crossed  the  Rubicon.  By  the  time  we 
reached  the  Minnesota  river  at  Shakopee  it  was  dark,  and 
pouring  down  rain.  There  was,  just  as  we  expected,  no 
bridge  and  no  ferry  there.  There  were,  however,  some  Indian 
canoes  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  After  a  long  time 
we  succeeded  in  getting  an  Indian  to  bring  one  or  two  over 
for  us  ;  and  lashing  two  canoes  together,  side  by  side,  we 
improvised  ferriage  for  all,  except  our  two  good,  patient  oxen 
and  my  horse,  which  we  compelled  to  ferry  themselves  over, 
after  the  most  pi'imitive  manner,  each  one  swimming  for 
himself  to  the  other  shore.  Hungry,  tired  and  sleepy,  we 
reached  the  mission  station  at  Shakopee  ;  were  kindly  received 
and  entertained  by  Bev.  Samuel  W.  Pond  ;  and  all  felt  satis- 
fied with  the  rich  and  varied  experiences  of  the  day  and  the 
journey. 

From  Shakopee  we  proceeded  next  on  our  way,  and  camped 
out  two  nights  between  Shakopee  and  Traverse-des-Sioux, 
where  St.  Peter  is  now  situated.  The  first  day  we  were  sud- 
denly and  almost  without  any  warning  compelled,  by  reason 
of  a  heavy  rain-storm,  to  go  into  camp  ;  but  before  we  could 
pitch  our  tent  and  get  our  baggage  into  it,  we  were  nearly 
drenched  with  the  rainfall,  and  we  were  surrounded  with  a 
flood  of  water,  so  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  we  kept  our 
blankets  dry  and  suitable  for  encampment  for  the  night. 
This  encampment  was  at  or  near  where  Jordan  is  located. 

The  next  day  we  had  a  tedious  time  making  our  way  thro' 
the  big  woods  below  Le  Sueur.  That  night  one  of  our  oxen, 
worn  down,  or  disgusted  with  the  roads,  or  without  roads, 
deserted  us.  After  two  or  three  hours  search  for  him  the 
next  morning,  all  in  vain,  we  concluded  to  go  on  without  him, 
leaving  a  hired  man  with  the  cart  to  bring  all  on  the  journey 
when  the  truant  ox  should  be  found,  which  was  done  the 
evening  of  the  same  day  ;  and  that  day  we  arrived  safely  at 


'?42  PEESONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Traverse-des-Sioux  ;  and  there  we  rested  over  the  Sabbath  in 
obedience  to  the  Fourth  Commandment. 

On  that  Sabbath  day,  while  at  Traverse-des-Sioux  mission 
station,  two  events  occurred  to  make  that  day  memorable  : 
First,  it  was  a  communion  Sabbath,  when  the  little  band  of 
missionaries,  providentially  there,  celebrated  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per, in  obedience  to  Christ,  who  said  to  his  diciples,  "  Do  this 
in  remembrance  of  me."  Second,  in  the  afternoon  of  that 
same  day  some  natives  who  had  been  down  to  Mendota  and 
St.  Paul,  returned  with  a  supply  of  whisky,  and  several 
Indians  were  intoxicated,  and  one  man  was  killed,  only  a  few 
hundred  yards  from  the  mission  station  ;  and  but  for  the  help 
of  two  of  our  young  men  from  the  mission  the  man  who  was 
in  charge  of  the  trading-post  would  have  been  killed  by  them. 
In  attempting  to  rescue  my  horse  from  the  danger  of  being 
shot  by  the  intoxicated  furious  party,  one  shot  from  a  musket 
was  discharged  at  my  feet,  and  another  over  my  head,  by  an 
Indian  too  drunk  to  aim  and  fire  on  time,  at  a  white  man. 

The  next  week,  resuming  our  journey  across  the  prairie  to 
Lacquiparle  from  Traverse-des-Sioux,  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  miles  in  a  northwestern  direction,  after  camping  out  four 
nights,  we  reached  our  destination  safely,  blessed  with  good 
health.  Lacquiparle  mission  was  one  of  the  oldest  mission 
stations  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  among  the  Dakotas.  A  Presby- 
terian church  of  seven  members  was  organized  there  by  Dr. 
T.  S.  "Williamson  early  in  1836,  which  in  1848  had  increased 
to  upwards  of  fifty  members.  On  arriving  there  we  at  once 
entered  upon  mission-work,  teaching  school,  having  from 
forty  to  fifty  day  scholars,  and  studying  the  Dakota  language, 
and  reciting  the  same,  during  the  evenings  and  mornings. 

Meantime,  as  a  matter  of  experiment,  as  well  as  duty  and 
privilege,  we  ventured  to  take  six  native  children  into  our 
family  to  board,  lodge,  teach  and  train,  and  so  demonstrate 
the  possibility,  not  only,  but  also  the  feasibility,  of  educating 
and  training  Indian  children,  as  the  right  arm  of  the  mission- 
work,  and  the  hope  of  success,  in  the  work  of  civilizing  and 
Christianizing  the  Sioux  or  Dakotas.  Nor  were  we  disap- 
pointed as  to  the  anticipated  results.  To  us,  it  was  a  work  as 
interesting  as  it  was  new  and  arduous.  Eev.  S.  R.  Piiggs, 
with  whom  we  were  intimately  associated  in  missionary  work 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  343 

at  that  station,  seeing  the  manifest  success  and  good  results 
of  the  exjieriment,  from  an  attitude  of  toleration  with  many 
doubts  and  misgivings  as  to  the  work,  was  convinced  and  con- 
verted, and  became  a  warm  friend  and  faithful  advocate  of 
the  plan  and  M'ork  of  establishing  and  maintaining  some  such 
manual-labor  boarding-sdiools  as  the  sine  (juanon  of  mission- 
ary labor  among  the  Dakotas,  and  among  the  aboriginal  tribes 
of  the  Northwest  ;  and  hence  he  subsequently  ventured  to 
establish  and  maintain  a  manual-labor  boarding-school  at 
Hazlewood  station  near  Yellow  Medicine  Agency,  in  Minne- 
sota ;  and  always,  up  to  the  day  of  his  death,  he  gave  me  the 
credit  of  inaugurating  and  successfully  demonstrating  the 
practicability  of  such  manual-labor  boarding-schools  among 
the  Dakotas.     Others  had  tried  it,  but  failed  in  the  attempt. 

But  our  connection  with  the  Dakota  mission  was  not  of 
long  continuance — only  about  five  years — when,  owing  tO  the 
failure  of  Mrs.  Adam's  health,  we  were  constrained  to  resign 
and  leave  that  field  of  labor,  and  go  East  in  order  to  secure 
medical  treatment  of  Mrs.  Adam's  case.  It  pleased  the  Lord 
to  bless  the  change  of  the  field  of  our  labors,  and  the  means 
used  for  the  recovery  of  Mrs.  Adam's  health,  and  to  give  us 
work  in  the  Home  field,  in  Minnesota,  as  at  St.  Peter  and  in 
that  vicinity  for  a  number  of  years  consecutively,  during  the 
early  settlement  of  that  state  ;  and  later,  to  widen  the  field  of 
my  labor  in  various  departments  of  Christian  work,  and 
especially  in  preaching  the  Gospel  of  Christ ;  and  for  the 
period  of  ten  years  it  was  my  privilege  to  preach  the  Gospel 
as  Chaplain  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  previous  to  our  return  to  the 
Dakotas,  the  people  of  our  first  love  and  service  for  the  Master. 

We  are  now,  by  the  special  and  wonderful  grace  of  God, 
engaged  once  more  in  mission-work,  among  the  Dakotas. 
Here  at  Goodwill  mission  station  we  have  some  few  of  the 
very  Itfdians  who  were  at  Lacquiparle,  Minnesota,  and  whom 
we  taught  there  years  and  years  ago  ;  and  we  have  here  many 
of  the  children  of  their  children,  in  these  two  manual-labor 
schools,  that  of  Goodwill,  and  that  of  the  U.  S.  Government- 
school,  in  all  upwards  of  two  hundred  pupils,  studious,  con- 
tented, interesting  and  hopeful,  under  faithfid  tuition,  disci- 
pline and  training  in  knowledge  and  the  industrial  pursuits 
and  avocations  of  li?e. 


344 


PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 


We  feel  assured — even  if  we  do  not  fully  understand  all 
about  tlie  way  that  we  have  been  led  and  brought  to  resume 
missionary  labor  among  this  people,  so  poor  and  needy — that 
our  labors  cannot  be  in  vain,  nor  all  our  hopes  be  lost  or 
disappointed.  "  Hitherto  the  Lord  has  helped  us  ;"  and  now, 
after  more  than  forty  years  labor  and  personal  experience,  so 
varied,  in  the  remembrance  of  all  His  love  and  mercy  and 
faithfulness,  and  His  great  and  precious  promises  to  us  as  in 
His  Holy  Word,  we  can  well  afford  to  trust  Him  in  time  to 
come. 

It  is  a  matter  of  deep  heartfelt  interest,  and  devout  thank- 
fulness to  God,  that  we  have  been  permitted,  in  His  kind 
Providence,  to  have  some  humble  part  in  the  great  work  of 
laying  the  foundations  of  learning  and  religion  in  this  the 
comparatively  new  Northwest,  and  that  we  have  witnessed  the 
settlement,  growth  and  prosperity  of  Minnesota  from  the  very 
beginning.     "  Behold  what  God  hath  wrought !" 

The  remembrance  of  our  association  and  work  with  the 
early  settlers  and  pioneer  friends  is  to  us  here,  in  our  mission 
home,  out  on  the  coteau  des  prairies  of  Dakota,  very  precious 
and  grateful  indeed  ;  and  from  this  high  elevation,  so  near 
heaven  above,  we  do  most  heartily  congratiilate  you  all  in  the 
enjoyment  of  your  Christian  homes,  home-comforts,  and  the 
manifold  blessings,  comforts  and  hopes  of  Christian  associa- 
tions and  work,  to  the  honor  of  Christ  and  the  ultimate  glory 
of  God.  Yours,  very  truly,  M.  N.  Adams. 


CHAP'TER  XLV. 

TRAVEL  IN  THE  EARLY  DAYS  OF  MINNESOTA — JOURNEY  AFOOT 
FROM  PEMBINA  TO  FORT  SNELLING  FIFTY  YEARS  AGO. 

From  the  private  journal  of  Hon.  Martin  McLeod  we  quote 
an  account  of  his  journey,  accompanied  by  two  British  officers, 
with  Pierre  Bottineau  as  guide,  from  Pembina  to  Ft.  Snelling  : 

Sunday,  26th  February,  1837.  Left  La  Fourch,  Eed  Eiver 
Colony,  Territory  of  Hudson's  Bay,  in  the  evening,  and  came 
three  miles  up  the  settlement  to  prepare  for  an  early  start  to- 
morrow to  St.  Peters,  750  miles  from  this — on  foot. 

Monday,  Feb.  2.  Started  at  daybreak  ;  cold,  with  a  sharp 
head-wind.  About  10  p.  m.  a  severe  snow-storm  commenced  ; 
obliged  to  take  shelter  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Micklejohn.  Came 
about  nine  miles  ;  5  p.  m.  cleared  off  ;  prospects  of  a  fine  day  ; 
preparing  snow-shoes,  etc.,  for  journey. 

Tuesday,  28th.  Started  at  daybreak  ;  bad  walking,  snow 
deep,  crossed  the  long  traverse  and  waited  until  the  dogs 
came  up.  At  3  p.  m.  had  to  encamp  ;  dogs  too  fatigued  to 
proceed  ;  dogs  never  travel  well  the  first  day. 

Wednesday,  March  1.  Left  encampment  at  sunrise  ;  found 
it  exceedingly  cold  sleeping  out  after  having  been  in  the  house 
for  two  months.  Came  forty  miles  to-day.  Arrived  at  a 
shanty  where  we  found  fourteen  persons,  men,  women,  and 
children,  witliout  food.  They  had  been  living  for  seven  days 
on  an  occasional  hare  and  pheasant.  The  hunter's  life  is  ever 
a  precarious  one.  We  relieved  them  with  pemmican  from 
our  stock  for  the  journey,  which  will  in  all  probability  be  the 
cause  of  our  fasting  some  days  before  we  reach  Lake  Traverse, 
the  first  trading-post  from  this,  distant  more  than  400  miles. 

Thursday,  2d.  Left  shanty  early  ;  morning  pleasant ;  struck 
off  into  the  plain  at  the  head  of  Swamp   river,  from  thence 


846  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

made  a  long  traverse  to  a  point  on  Pembina  river  fifteen  miles 
from  the  head,  where  we  encamped,  having  come  more  than 
forty  miles  to-day.  This  is  my  third  day  on  snow-shoes,  and 
I  feel  exceedingly  fatigued. 

Friday,  3d.  Had  a  cold  and  stormy  night  ;  unable  to  leave 
camp  before  9  o'clock  ;  wind  ahead  until  12  o'clock,  when  it 
changed  to  the  north  and  brought  with  it  a  snow-storm  which 
caught  us  on  the  prairie  many  miles  from  shelter  ;  3  p.  m. 
came  to  a  small  wood  on  the  bend  of  Tongue  river  ;  one  of 
our  party,  Mr.  P.,  not  having  come  up,  we  encamped.  Mr. 
P.  has  no  snow-shoes  ;  he  persisted  in  not  bringing  any  with 
him,  wdiich  may  yet  lead  to  unhappy  consequences,  as  he  is 
unable  to  keep  up  with  us  on  the  plains,  and  should  we  be 
separated  by  a  storm  he  will  inevitably  perish  ;  indeed  the 
poor  fellow  this  day  said  that  he  would  perish  in  this  journey. 
Feel  miserably  fatigued,  and  my  feet  are  severely  blistered 
with  the  strings  of  the  snow-shoes  ;  at  every  step  the  blood 
from  my  toes  oozes  through  my  moccasins.  We  came  through 
a  beautiful  prairie  to-day  enclosed  on  three  sides  by  woods 
which  can  be  distinctly  seen  from  the  middle  of  the  prairie  ; 
on  the  north  by  the  wood  on  Pembina  river,  west  by  Pem- 
bina mountain,  south  by  the  trees  bordering  Tongue  river — 
forming  almost  a  complete  circle  of  at  least  100  miles. 

March  4th.  Came  a  long  distance  to-day  ;  snow  deep  and 
very  heavy,  which  clogs  the  snow-shoes  and  makes  them 
exceedingly  fatiguing  to  carry.  Encamped  on  a  branch  of 
Park  river  ;~  find  Major  Long's  map  of  the  country  very 
incorrect. 

Sunday,  5tli.  Encamped  at  3  p.  m.  on  a  bend  of  the  second 
branch  of  Park  river,  near  the  coteau  des  prairies,  having 
come  about  fifteen  miles  only  ;  snowing  fast,  which  obliged 
us  to  camp.  All  the  rivers  in  this  country  are  very  crooked, 
and  the  timber  growing  upon  their  banks  is  in  every  instance 
that  I  have"  seen  in  })roportion  to  the  size  of  the  streams. 

Monday,  6th,  Bad  walking  ;  snow  deep  ;  encamped  at  2 
p.  m.  on  Saline  river,  one  of  our  party  being  too  fatigued  to 
proceed.  Came  about  eighteen  miles  through  an  immense 
burnt  prairie.  The  further  southward  we  come  the  more 
snow  we  find.  Banks  of  the  Saline  very  high,  with  timber 
(elm  and  oak)  growing  down  their  sides  to  the  edge  of  the 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND   ITS   PEOPLE,  347 

stream  which  is  five  yards  wide.  Near  the  mouth  of  the 
river  is  a  salt  factory  which  must  prove  profitable  as  salt  is 
worth  sixteen  shillings  per  bushel  at  R.  R.  Settlement  250 
miles  hence.  The  water  here  is  perfectly  fresh  and  palatable; 
it  is  from  a  siuall  lake  about  twenty  miles  from  this  down- 
wards that  the  saline  flows. 

March  7th.  Last  night  excessively  cold  ;  to-day  unable  to 
leave  camp  ;  so  stormy  that  it  is  impossil)le  to  see  the  dis- 
tance of  ten  yards  on  the  plain,  and  the  distance  to  the  next 
wood  or  place  of  encampment  is  more  than  thirty  miles, 
which  would  endanger  our  lives  should  we  attempt  to  cross 
the  plain  in  the  storm.  Such  is  one  of  the  many  disadvan- 
tages encountered  by  the  traveler  in  this  gloomy  region  at 
this  inclement  season. 

March  8,  Wind  north  and  piercing  cold  on  the  prairie. 
Crossed  the  great  plain  and  arrived  at  Turtle  river  at  3  p.  m., 
where  we  encamped  ;  came  thirty  miles. 

March  9.  Excessively  cold  and  stormy  until  noon  ;  came 
long  distance  to-day  ;  encamped  long  after  sundown  on  a 
branch  of  Goose  river ;  feel  very  fatigued  ;  my  feet  cut  and 
swollen  from  the  continual  use  of  the  snow-shoes  which, 
however,  I  begin  to  like,  and  prefer  keeping  them  on  where 
there  is  but  little  snow,  and  where  they  might  be  dispensed 
with  ;  I  also  find  ( sore  as  my  feet  are )  that  I  travel  a  greater 
distance  in  a  day  with  than  without  them  ;  such  is  custom. 

March  11.  Unable  to  make  the  "  grande  traverse"  (fifty 
miles )  to  Shienne  river,  the  day  being  misty,  and  the  land- 
marks which  guide  the  traveler  on  the  plain  not  visible. 
Came  a  short  distance  and  encamped  on  the  lower  tributary 
of  Goose  river. 

March  12.  Started  at  daybreak,  route  principally  on  immense 
hills  ;  not  a  tree  or  shrub  Adsible  ;  saw  thirteen  buffaloes  ; 
one  shot  at  by  the  guide,  but  not  killed,  though  severely 
wounded  ;  Mr.  P.  unable  to  keep  up  with  us  ;  afraid  to  lose 
him,  consequently  we  are  unable  to  get  across  the  plain  to  a 
place  of  encampment  ;  obliged  to  take  up  our  place  of  rest  for 
the  night  in  a  pond  among  a  few  rushes,  the  only  shelter  for 
miles  around  in  this  dreary  and  monotonous  region.  During 
the  past  months,  in  moments  of  extreme  suffering,  I  have 
seen  and  felt  the  interposition  of  a  ruling  and  merciful  Prov- 


348  PEBSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

dence.  This  evening,  while  we  were  all  suffering  the  sever- 
est torments  for  want  of  water,  and  without  hope  of  getting 
any  for  many  hours,  the  guide  espied  at  a  distance  the  car- 
cases of  two  buffaloes.  Being  a  hunter  himself,  curiosity  led 
him  to  the  spot  when,  Lo  !  to  his  great  delight  and  our  relief, 
he  found  a  few  small  pieces  of  wood,  brought  there  by  a 
hunter  a  few  days  previous,  by  which  means  we  were  enabled 
to  melt  a  kettle  of  snow. 

March  13.  Passed  a  more  comfortable  night  than  we  had 
expected  ;  morning  miserable,  having  to  creep  out  from 
under  our  buffalo  skins,  tie  on  our  snow-shoes,  and  take  to  the 
plain  to  warm   ourselves  ;  no  fire,  no  water,  no  breakfast. 

I  took  a  small  piece  of  frozen  pemmican,  and  ate  it  with  a 
handf ull  of  snow,  at  the  same  time  walking  as  fast  as  possible 
to  warm  myself.  Soon  after  we  started  a  violent  storm  came 
on  ;  guide  said  we  were  lost  and  would  all  perish  ;  advised 
him  to  take  a  direct  course,  as  near  as  possible,  and  for  that 
purpose  to  keep  before  the  wind.  At  3  p.  m.,  having  walked 
since  daybreak  more  than  thirty  miles,  we  perceived  through 
the  drift  a  clump  of  trees,  where  we  arrived  soon  after,  happy 
to  escape  passing  a  second  night  on  the  plain,  where  it  is 
more  than  probable  we  should  have  been  all  frozen  to  death. 
The  guide  says  we  did  not  come  much  out  of  our  route,  and 
that  we  are  on  a  branch  of  Shienne  river,  called  the  river  of 
rushes. 

March  14.  Last  night  so  cold  could  not  get  a  moment's 
sleep  ;  to-day  in  camp  ;  guide  unable  to  go  on,  with  sore  eyes. 

March  15.  Last  night  as  cold  as  the  former  ;  day  pleasant  ; 
in  camp  ;  guide  still  unable  to  "  see  his  way". 

March  16.  Came  through  two  prairies  and  encamped  on 
Shienne  river. 

A   MOST   DISASTROUS   TURN   IN   THE   EVENTS   OF   THE   DAY. 

Friday,  March  17th,  1837.  This  morning,  when  we  left  the 
camp,  the  weather  was  very  mild  and  pleasant  ;  guide  dis- 
covered tracks  of  a  deer  and  went  in  pursuit  of  it  ;  meantime 
Mr.  H.,  Mr.  P.  and  myself,  directed  our  course  across  the 
plain  towards  a  point  of  wood  on  Rice  river  ;  suddenly  about 

II  o'clock  a  storm  from  the  north  came  on  that  no  pen  can 
describe.  We  made  toward  the  wood  as  fast  as  possible  ;  it 
was  distant  about  three  miles.     I  was  foremost,  the  dogs  fol- 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  849 

lowing  close  to  me,  Mr.  H.  not  far  distant,  Mr.  P.  two  miles 
behind.  In  a  few  moments  nothing  was  perceptible,  and  it 
was  with  difficulty  that  I  could  keep  myself  from  suffocating  ; 
however,  I  hastened  on  and  in  a  short  time  caught  a  glimi)se 
of  the  wood  through  a  drifting  cloud  of  snow.  I  was  then 
not  more  than  three  hundred  yards  from  it,  as  near  as  I  can 
possibly  judge.  At  that  instant  I  also  saw  Mr.  H.,  who  had 
come  up  within  thirty  yards  of  me  and  caWed  out  that  I  was 
going  the  wrong  course,  exclaiming,  "  keep  more  to  the  right". 
I  replied,  "  No,  no  ;  follow  me  quick."  I  perceived  him  to 
stoop,  probably  to  arrange  the  strings  of  his  snow-shoes.  In 
an  instant  afterwards  an  immense  cloud  of  drifting  snow  hid 
him  from  my  view  and  I  SAW  him  no  more.  I  cannot  describe 
what  my  feelings  then  were  ;  what  must  they  have  been  in  a 
few  seconds  afterwards  when  I  found  myself  at  the  bottom  of 
a  ravine  more  than  twenty  feet  deep,  from  which  I  had  to  use 
the  greatest  exertion  to  save  myself  from  being  suffocated  by 
the  snow  which  was  drifting  down  upon  me.  Upon  gaining 
the  edge  of  the  ravine,  which  I  effected  with  the  greatest 
difficulty,  having  my  snow-shoes  still  on,  as  my  hands  were 
too  cold  to  untie  the  strings  of  them,  which  were  frozen,  I 
I  found  the  poor  faithful  dogs  with  their  traineau  buried  in  a 
snow-bank.  Having  dug  them  out,  my  next  effort  was  to  gain 
the  wood,  which  I  knew  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
ravine  about  twenty  yards  over,  yet  I  could  not  distinguish  a 
tree,  so  close  and  thick  was  the  snow  drifting.  An  hour's 
exertion  with  the  dogs  and  traineau  through  the  deep  snow  in 
the  ravine  brought  me  into  the  edge  of  the  wood,  which  I 
found  was  composed  of  only  a  few  scattered  trees,  which 
would  afford  but  a  miserable  shelter.  I  tried  to  make  a  fire. 
My  matches  were  all  wet ;  my  hands  were  too  cold  to  strike  a 
spark  with  the  flint  and  steel  ;  what  can  be  done  ?  "I  must 
not  perish,"  said  I  to  myself.  I  then  thought  of  my  compan- 
ions. Alas,  poor  fellows  !  there  can  be  no  hope  for  you,  as  I 
have  all  the  blankets,  buffalo-robes,  provisions,  <fec.,  the  dogs 
having  followed  me  in  the  storm.  Having  dug  a  hole  in  a 
snow-bank,  I  made  a  sort  of  shelter  with  my  cloak  and  a 
blanket,  and  rolled  myself  in  a  blanket  and  a  large  buffalo- 
robe.  I  was  then  completely  wet  through,  for  a  shower  of 
sleet  had  accompanied  the  storm ;  in  a  few  moments  it  began 


350  PERSONAL   BECOLLECTIONS 

to  freeze ;  I  was  then  so  cold  that  I  feared  much  that  I 
should  perish  during  the  night.  The  night  came  ;  the  storm 
continued  unabated  ;  my  situation  was  truly  miserable  ;  com- 
panions and  guide  in  all  probability  perished  ;  myself  in  great 
danger  of  freezing  also  ;  and  in  a  strange  country  some  hun- 
dred miles  from  any  settlement  or  trading-post.  I  cannot  say 
what  I  felt,  although  my  usual  feelings  would  raise  to  my 
relief  frequently,  and  I  would  say  to  myself,  "  What  is  passed 
cannot  be  helped  ;  better  luck  next  time  ;  take  it  coolly"— 
which  I  was  evidently  doing  with  a  vengeance.  The  greater 
part  of  the  night  was  passed  listening  to  the  roaring  of  the 
storm,  and  the  dismal  howling  of  the  wolves,  together  with 
the  pleasant  occupation  of  rubbing  my  feet  to  keep  them 
from  freezing. 

Saturday,  18th.  Never  was  light  more  welcome  to  a  mortal. 
At  dawn  I  crept  from  my  hole,  and  soon  after  heard  cries. 
Fired  two  shots  ;  soon  after  guide  came  up  ;  he  had  escaped 
by  making  a  fire,  and  being  a  native,  and  a  half-blood,  his 
knowledge  of  the  country  and  its  dangers  saved  him.  Mr.  P. 
was  found  with  both  his  legs  and  feet  frozen.  All  search  for 
Mr.  H.  proved  inefPectual.  Remained  all  day  near  the  scene 
of  our  disaster  in  the  hope  that  some  trace  of  Mr.  H.  might 
be  found. 

Sunday,  19th.  Started  early  with  poor  P.  on  the  dog  train- 
eau,  having  left  all  our  luggage  behind  ;  at  2  p.  m.  found 
dogs  unable  to  proceed  with  P.,  and  he  suffering  too  much  to 
bear  the  pain  occasioned  by  moving  about.  With  the  help  of 
guide  made  a  hut  to  leave  Mr.  P.  in,  where  he  will  remain  for 
five  or  six  days  until  I  can  send  horses  for  him  from  Lake 
Traverse,  sixty  miles  from  this.  Left  with  P.  all  our  blankets 
and  robes,  except  a  blanket  each  (guide  and  myself)  ;  also 
plenty  of  wood  cut,  and  ice  near  his  lodge  to  make  water  of. 
Out  of  provisions  ;  obliged  to  kill  one  of  our  dogs  ;  dog-meat 
excellent  eating. 

Monday,  March  20.  Morning  stormy,  accompanied  with 
snow  ;  unable  to  leave  camp  till  2  p.  m.,  when  guide  and 
myself  started  ;  came  a  long  distance  and  encamped  in  the 
Bois  des  Sioux  ;  feel  very  weak  and  unwell. 

March  21.  Left  the  Bois  des  Sioux  at  sunrise  and  arrived  at 
dark  at  the  trading-house  at  Lake  Traverse,  having  traveled 


J 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  351 

forty-five  miles  to-day,  with  a  severe  pain  in  my  side  and  knee. 

March  22d.    At  trading-house  ;  feel  unwell. 

March  23.  Sent  the  guide  with  another  person  and  two 
horses  and  a  cart  for  Mr.  P.  and  my  trunk,  &c,  with  instruc- 
tions to  the  men  to  search  for  the  body  of  Mr.  H.,  in  order 
that  it  may  be  decently  interred  at  the  trading-house. 

April  1st.  For  the  past  nine  days  have  remained  at  the 
trading-house,  where  I  am  well  treated  by  Mr.  Brown,  the 
gentleman  in  charge  for  the  American  Fur  Company.  Saw 
the  game  of  la  crosse  played  very  frequently,  both  by  the 
squaws  and  Indians.  It  is  a  very  interesting  game  when  well 
contested,  and  the  female  players  are  most  astonishingly 
expert. 

April  2d.  This  morning  the  two  men  returned.  Poor  P. 
is  no  more.  They  found  him  in  his  hut,  dead.  He  had 
taken  off  the  greater  part  of  his  clothes,  no  doubt  in  the 
delirium  of  a  fever  caused  by  the  excruciating  pain  of  his 
frozen  feet.  In  the  hut  was  found  nearly  all  the  wood  we 
left  him,  his  food,  and  a  kettle  of  water  partially  frozen. 
Everything  indicated  that  he  died  the  second  or  third  day 
after  our  departure  from  him.  No  trace  of  the  body  of  Mr. 
H.  was  found.  The  poor  fellow  has  long  ere  this  become 
food  for  the  savage  animals  that  prowl  around  these  bound- 
less wilds.  Thus  has  miserably  perished  a  young  and  amia- 
ble man  at  the  age  of  twenty,  in  the  full  vigor  of  youth,  full 
of  high  hopes  and  expectations. 

April  3.  This  day  poor  P.  was  consigned  to  his  last  abode, 
the  silent  and  solitary  tomb.  It  is  a  source  of  consolation  to 
me,  amid  my  troubles,  that  I  have  been  enabled  to  perform 
this  last  duty  to  a  friend  with  all  due  respect.  Would  that  I 
could  say  the  same  of  Mr.  Hayes.  I  have,  however,  left 
directions  with  all  the  Indians  near  this  post  to  search  for  his 
bones  and  inter  them.  They  are  about  to  depart  on  their 
spring  hunts  and  will  in  all  probability  find  his  remains.     I 

CAN  DO  NO   MORE. 

April  5, 1837,  left  Lake  Traverse  at  10  o'clock  ;  came  twenty 
miles  through  a  hilly  prairie,  and  encamped  at  3  p.  m. 

April  6,  came  forty  miles  to-day,  and  encamped  at  Pomme 
de  Terre  river. 

Friday,  April  7.     Cold  and  stormy  ;  had  some  difficulty  in 


352  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

getting  aci'oss  Pomme  de  Terre  river  ;  made  the  horses  swim ; 
got  the  baggage  and  the  cart  across  on  some  pieces  of  jammed 
ice  ;  arrived  at  Lacquiparle  at  2  p.  m. ;  well  received  by  Mr. 
Kenville,  who  has  a  trading-post  for  the  Indians  here. 

Saturday,  April  8.  As  the  weather  appears  unsettled,  pre- 
vailed upon  by  Mi\  R.  to  remain  with  him  till  Monday.  To- 
day visited  a  Mr.  Williamson,  a  missionary  sent  into  this 
country  two  years  ago  by  the  American  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions,  for  the  conversion  of  the  Dakota  Indians  of  this 
place.  Mr.  AV.'s  family  resides  with  him.  He  has  two 
assistants  (a  young  lady,  his  wife's  sister,  and  a  young  man 
who  tried  to  convert  me )  in  his  arduous  undertaking  Mr. 
W.  can  now  speak  a  good  deal  of  the  Dakota  language,  and 
I  believe  has  made  some  translations  from  the  Bible. 

Sunday,  April  9.  Went  to  hear  Mr.  W.  preach.  He  also 
read  a  chapter  from  the  Testament  in  Dakota,  and  a  young 
man  present  another  in  French.  A  number  of  the  Psalms  of 
David  were  sung  in  Dakota  by  half-breeds  and  Indians.  The 
audience  consisted  of  half-breeds,  Indians,  Canadians,  and  a 
few  whites. 

Monday,  April  10. — CamQ  thirty  miles  ;  encampea  at  5  p.m. 
at  river  L'eau  de  vie. 

April  11.  Came  thirty-five  miles  ;  encamped  at  6  p.  m. 
near  the  St.  Peters  river.  Crossed  to-day  Custor  and  Petite 
rivers.     Saw  a  great  number  of  flocks  of  wild  geese  and  swans. 

April  12.  Came  thirty  miles  ;  encamped  at  6  p.  m.  in  a 
small  grove  of  oaks. 

April  13.  Came  thirty  miles  ;  encamped  at  5  p.  m.  at  the 
Monte  de  Sioux,  at  the  trading-house  of  Mr.  Provencalle. 

Friday,  April  14.  Embarked  at  sunrise  in  a  canoe  with 
Indians  and  squaws  who  are  going  down  to  where  the  St. 
Peters  joins  the  Mississippi  at  Fort  Snelling.  Have  for  com- 
pany ten  Indians  and  squaws,  in  three  canoes.  These  people 
have  in  one  of  their  canoes  the  bodies  of  two  of  their  deceased 
relatives,  which  they  intend  carrying  to  a  lake  near  the  Mis- 
sissippi more  than  one  hundred  miles  from  this.  In  many 
instances  these  people  bring  the  bodies  of  their  friends  much 
farther  when  it  is  the  wish  of  the  dying  person  to  be  depos- 
ited in  a  particular  place  At  3  p.  m.  obliged  to  encamp  in 
consequence  of  rain  coming  on.     Here  I  found  the  benefit  of 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  353 

a  good  skin-lodge,  which  was  put  up  hy  the  females  in  a  short 
time,  and  wo  all  got  under  it  round  a  snug  fire,  cooked  our 
victuals,  and  felt  exceedingly  comfortable. 

Saturday,  April  15.  Morning  rainy  ;  did  not  leave  en- 
campment till  11  o'clock  ;  3  p.  m.  passed  Petite  rapids,  and 
arrived  at  the  trading-house  of  Mr.  Faribault,  where  we 
stopped  a  few  moments. 

Sunday,  April  16.  Three  p.  m.,  at  long  last,  have  arrived 
at  Fort  Snelling,  St.  Peters,  having  escaped  a  variety  of  dan- 
gers, and  endured  great  fatigue  and  privations  in  the  Sioux 
country. 

MEMORANDUMS. 

To-day,  April  20,  1837,  wrote  to  Alex'r  Christie,  esq.,  Hon, 
Hudson  Bay  Co.,  giving  him  tlie  particulars  of  my  unfortu- 
nate and  melancholy  journey  from  Red  river.  Wrote  also  to 
Mr.  Logan  and  Mr.  Millian  of  Ped  river.  May  3  sent  them 
by  Mr.  Bottineau,  the  guide.  April  22,  wrote  to  J.  P.  B., 
Lake  Traverse,  requesting  him  to  inform  me  of  the  result  of 
the  Indians'  search  for  the  remains  of  my  unfortunate  friend, 
Mr.  Hayes.  Wrote  to  Mr.  Penville,  Lacquiparle.  Wrote  to 
Mr.  G.  H.  P.,  a  missionary  assistant  at  Lacquiparle. 

Saint  Peters,  May  29th,  1837.— Saw  Frenier,  a  half-breed 
Stoux  from  Lake  Traverse,  who  informed  me  that  the  band 
of  Indians  who  hunted  this  spring  not  far  from  the  scene  of 
our  disaster  on  the  17th  of  March,  had  been  unsuccessful  in 
their  search  for  the  remains  of  Mr.  Hayes.  There  cannot 
now  be  any  hope  of  his  remains  being  ever  heard  of,  at  least 
by  me,  as  I  shall  leave  this  place  in  a  few  days  hence. 

THIRST    IN   SNOW-COVERED   COUNTRIES. 

Travelers  have  not  deemed  the  fact  worth  mentioning,  and 
therefore  no  one  who  has  not  suffered  can  imagine  or  believe 
that  during  the  winter  man  is  exposed  on  the  cold  and  snow- 
covered  plains  of  North  America  to  the  most  painful  of  priva- 
tions ;  that  even  while  walking  on  frozen  water,  he  is  agonized 
by  parched  and  burning  lips  ;  and  that  by  snow,  eaten  under 
such  circumstances,  the  thirst  of  the  traveler  or  hunter  is  pro- 
portionally increased.  When  out  in  either  of  these  capacities 
the  agony  siistained  by  them  from  thirst  is  often  very  great ; 
it  is  truly  painful  while  it  lasts,  and  contrary  to  the  sufferer's 
expectation,  he  finds  that  by  eating  snow  his  mouth  is  more  and 


354  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

more  inflamed,  and  his  desire  for  drink-  fearfully  augmented  ; 
while  a  lassitude  comes  over  him  which  water  only  can  dissijjate. 

It  is  to  be  observed,  however,  that  it  is  only  on  the  plains 
that  the  experienced  hunter  or  traveler  is  exposed  to  such  hard- 
ships. That  occurs  frequently  in  this  country  where  the  trav- 
eler's route  is  for  the  most  part  through  wide  plains,  covered 
with  long  rank  grass  and  snow  stretched  out  in  all  directions, 
presenting  a  smooth,  white,  unbroken  surface  terminating  in 
the  horizon. 

Everyone  going  to  any  distance,  at  this  season,  carries  as  an 
essential  article  in  his  equipment  a  small  kettle  in  which  he 
melts  snow  and  boils  water.  To  allow  the  water  to  boil  is  a 
necessary  part  of  the  process  ;  for  if  the  snow  is  merely  melted 
the  water  has  a  smoked  and  bitter  taste,  and  a  drink  of  it  if  far 
from  refreshing.  On  the  contrary,  when  the  water  is  allowed 
to  boil,  and  then  cooled  by  throwing  into  it  plenty  of  the  pur- 
est snow,  no  spring  water  is  more  delightful  to  the  taste  or 
more  satisfying  to  the  wants  of  the  thirsty  traveler. 

BUFFALO    HUNTING    IN    THE    WEST. 

The  first  season  of  the  buffalo  hunting  commences  about  the 
15th  of  June,  and  is  continued  to  the  1st  of  August.  The  sec- 
ond season  commences  in  September  and  terminates  late  in  the 
fall,  generally  about  the  1st  of  November,  leaving  time  sufl?- 
cient  to  return  home  before  the  cold  weather  sets  in.  I  allude 
to  the  Brules'  hunting,  as  the  Indians  who  inhabit  the  buffalo 
country  kill  these  annimals  at  all  seasons. 

The  Brules  usually  set  out  with  five  hundred  to  six  hundred 
carts,  drawn  principally  by  oxen,  their  wives  and  daughters 
accompanying  these  carts  for  the  purpose  of  preparing  the 
meat,  which  is  done  by  stripping  it  from  the  bones,  and  spread- 
ing it  upon  a  scaffold  of  poles  elevated  three  to  four  feet  from 
the  ground,  under  which  they  build  a  fire  of  the  buffalo  dung. 
In  this  manner  they  continue  to  dry  the  meat  as  fast  as  it  is 
killed  by  the  hunters.  It  requires  the  flesh  of  twelve  of  the 
largest  animals  thus  prepared  to  load  a  cart  drawn  by  one  ox  ; 
and  allowing  six  hundred  carts  to  the  spring  season,  would 
make  seven  thousand  two  hundred  of  these  animals  killed  in 
about  a  month  by  the  Brules  alone,  not  including  any  of  the 
various  Indian  tribes,  such  as  the  Sioux,  the  Mandans,  Gros- 
ventres,  &c.,  all  of  whom  inhabit  the  buffalo  country  and  des- 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  355 

troy  these  animals  by  tnousands  ;  and  add  to  this,  too,  that  in 
the  sj)ring  nt'arly  all  the  animals  killed  are  cows,  the  meat  of 
tlie  male  not  being  good  after  a  certain  season.  These  differ- 
ent causes  account  for  the  rapid  decrease  of  the  buffalo  within 
the  last  few  years.  I  have  been  informed  by  a  Brule  hunter 
that  at  the  last  hunt  they  had  to  go  a  journey  of  fifteen  days 
to  the  west,  six  farther  than  they  ever  went  before. 

In  the  fall  hunt,  besides  the  dried  meat,  they  make  pemmi- 
can,  and  also  bring  home  a  great  quantity  of  the  meat  in  its 
natural  state.  The  pemmican  is  made  by  drying  the  meat,  as 
I  before  mentioned  ;  it  is  then  beaten  into  small  pieces  and 
placed  into  a  sack  made  of  the  buffalo  skin,  into  which  is  poured 
a  quantity  of  the  melted  fat  of  the  animal  ;  when  it  cools 
it  is  pressed  into  the  sack,  which  is  sewed  up  ;  in  this 
manner  it  will  keep  three  or  four  years.  The  sacks  are  various 
sizes,  but  the  common  sizes  are  from  one  hundred  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds. 

The  usual  number  of  horsemen  attending  these  hunts  are 
about  five  hundred  ;  however  not  more  than  from  two  to  three 
hundred  act  as  hunters,  and  are  those  who  possess  the  swiftest 
horses.  The  hunters  are  exceedingly  expert  ;  notwithstanding 
which  many  accidents  occur.  I  have  seen  many  of  them  with 
broken  legs,  broken  arms,'  and  disabled  hands  ;  this  latter 
accident  frequently  occurs  from  their  manner  of  loading  their 
guns.  They  never  use  wadding.  The  powder  is  carelessly 
thrown  in,  in  more  or  less  quantities,  the  ball  is  then  tumbled 
in  upon  it,  and  off  goes  the  shot.  This  is  done  to  save  time, 
and  it  is  almost  incredible  what  a  number  of  shots  one  person 
will  discharge  in  riding  the  distance  of  three  or  four  miles, 
the  horse  at  the  top  of  his  speed. 

A  gentleman  who  has  lived  many  years  in  the  buffalo  country 
says  that  upon  the  least  calculation  four  to  five  hiindred 
thousand  of  these  animals  are  killed  yearly  on  this  side  of  the 
Missouri. 

ASSINIBOIN   BELIEF   IN   FUTUIRTY. 

The  Assiniboius  believe  that  in  another  life  to  obtain  endur- 
ing happiness  they  have  to  climb  a  very  high  and  steep 
mountain,  the  ascent  of  which  is  so  difficult  and  dangerous 
that  it  requires  many  attempts,  perseverance,  and  great  forti- 
tude to  gain  the  summit ;  but  once  there,  a  delightful  and 


356  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

boundless  plain  is  spread  before  them,  covered  with  eternal 
verdure  and  countless  herds  of  buffalo  and  the  other  animals 
which  they  delight  to  hunt  ;  and  that  they  will  find  all  their 
friends  who  left  this  life  before  them,  enjoying  an  uninter- 
rupted course  of  happiness,  dwelling  in  beautiful  skin  tents 
which  ever  appear  new. 

Those  who  have  done  ill  in  this  life  and  have  been  success- 
ful enough  to  gain  the  summit  of  the  hill,  are  there  met  by 
the  dwellers  of  the  happy  plain,  and  those  who  knew  them  in 
this  life  bear  witness  against  them.  They  are  then  imme- 
diately thrown  down  the  steej^,  and  should  their  necks  not  be 
broken,  never  again  attempt  an  ascent. 

Those  who  have  done  good  in  this  life  are  welcomed  with 
universal*  joy,  and  immediately  admitted  to  all  the  privileges 
of  their  never-ending  hunting  and  happiness. 

This  is  equal  to  the  Happy  Valley  in  Kasselas. 

JOURNEY  ALONG  THE  SOUTHERN  SHORE  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 

In  October,  1836,  Mr.  McLeod  made  the  journey  from  Sault 
St.  Marie,  following  the  lake  shore  by  boat  to  the  now  Min- 
nesota territory,  which  he  crossed  to  the  Red  river  of  the  North. 
Of  this  journey  we  quote  from  his  daily  record  of  the  events  : 
The  distance  from  the  Sault  to  La  Point  is  450  miles  as  we  had 
to  come  (that  is,  by  the  coast).  We  are  yet  sixty  miles  from 
La  Point,  consequently  have  been  twenty-four  days  coming 
390  miles.  In  this  route  we  met  with  many  dangers.  At  this 
season  the-great  lake  is  continually  in  a  state  of  agitation,  and 
a  batteau  with  twenty-one  persons  and  j^rovisions  in  it  is  a  no 
difficult  thing  to  swamp — a  misfortune  which  we  luckily 
escaped  a  number  of  times. 

In  making  the  traverse  of  twenty-one  miles  at  Long  Point 
we  fortunately  got  a  few  hours  of  fair  weather,  but  no  sooner 
had  we  crossed  than  there  sprang  up  a  breeze  which  would 
have  immortalized  us  all  in  a  very  few  moments.  The  Indians 
wait  a  number  of  days  for  good  weather  to  pass  this  dangerous 
traverse  ;  they  then  paddle  their  canoes  some  distance  from 
the  shore  and  commence  singing  a  hymn  to  the  Great  Spirit, 
entreating  him  to  give  them  fair  weather  until  they  have  crossed 
over  ;  after  which  men,  women,  and  children,  take  their  pad- 
dles and  work  silently  but  dilligently  until  they  have  crossed. 
Indeed  nothing  can  be  more  impressive  than  the  simple  but 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  367 

sincere  manner  in  which  these  primitive  people  worship  the 
Great  Being.  One  instance  of  this  I  had  the  happiness  to 
witness  in  our  route  through  the  hike.  Upon  a  very  calm 
night  while  at  least  three  miles  distant  from  what  we  all  sup- 
posed an  uninhabited  shore  we  suddenly  heard  a  number  of 
voices  singing.  Upon  inquiring  of  our  boatman  what  these 
voices  meant  ho  immediately  replied,  with  an  air  of  great 
carelessness,  that  it  was  nothing  but  some  savages  praying, 
and  that  it  was  their  custom  always  to  solicit  the  Great  Spirit 
at  the  top  of  their  voices. 

The  appearance  of  the  land  along  the  whole  coast  of  the 
lake  is  not  at  all  favorable  for  agricultural  pursuits.  Indeed 
I  am  inclined  to  think  that  it  will  never  be  settled.  There  are 
also  but  very  few  good  harbors  for  ships. 

Of  the  journey  from  Lake  Superior  to  the  Ked  river  settle- 
ment Mr.  McLeod  writes  under  date  of  December  20th,  1836  : 
The  whole  distance  we  had  traveled  on  foot  from  November 
26th,  as  we  came,  is  about  645  miles.  During  that  time  we 
lived  upon  a  pint  of  boiled  rice  each  per  day,  and  were  four 
days  without  food  of  any  kind  except  two  ounces  each  of  meat 
and  a  small  partridge  divided  between  nine  persons. 

THE   LIFE   OF   MAN. 

How  vain  our  hopes  ;  how  futile  our  aspirations.  What  is 
the  life  of  man  ?  'Tis  but  the  shadow  of  an  existence  ;  yet  in 
that  shadow  of  a  shade  how  much  is  comprised  !  How  few 
there  are  who  can  look  back  to  the  bright  days  of  their  youth, 
the  sunshine  of  life,  and  feel  that  their  dreams  of  renown  and 
splendor,  or  the  more  virtuous  desire  of  domestic  happiness 
approach  realization.  All  life  is  ideal,  and  our  very  existence 
is  but  a  dream. 

But  a  few  brief  years  have  passed  since  I  entered  the  por- 
tals of  manhood,  yet  I  have  frequently  tasted  of  the  bitter 
fruit  of  this  transient  pilgrimage.  I  have  been  tossed,  like  a 
weed,  upon  the  waves  of  doubt  and  uncertainty,  and  have  seen 
the  friends  of  my  youth  wrecked  upon  the  shores  of  disap- 
pointment. I  have  seen  promises — the  most  solemn — broken  ; 
friendships  the  warmest — buried  in  the  cold  grave  of  oblivion 
or  forgetfulness  ;  and  ties  "  dearer  than  these,  than  all" — 
forever  crushed,  and  have  felt  the  misery  that  follows  them  ; 
and  yet  I  am  but  upon  the  verge  of  "  life's  journeying". 


CHAPTEE  XLVI. 


EVENTS   OF   EIGHTEEN  HUNDRED   AND   SIXTY-TWO. 


It  is  not  within  tlie  scope  of  these  recollections  to  even 
attempt  a  -connected  narration  of  the  local  events  transpiring 
at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  in  the  order  of  their  occurrence 
and  in  detail  to  the  present  time.  Our  record  is  nearing 
completion.  The  most  important  occurrences  of  the  year  1862 
here,  as  elsewhere,  were  in  relation  to  the  raising  of  troops 
for  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and  for  the  protection  of  our 
immediate  frontier  from  the  Indians. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  on  the  first  Wednesday 
of  January  the  pioneer  Presbyterian  minister  of  Minneapolis, 
Bev.  J.  C.  Whitney,  was  elected  chaplain  of  the  house  of 
representatives. 

The  establishment  of  a  pork-packing  house  in  Minneapolis 
by  P.  H.  and  A.  Kelly,  was  of  great  benefit  to  the  farmers. 

Keports  of  the  gallant  bearing  of  the  Second  regiment  of 
Minnesota  volunteer  infantry  at  the  battle  of  Mill  Spring  gave 
great  satisfaction,  as  it  indicated  that  all  our  troops  would 
sustain  the  splendid  reputation  given  to  our  soldiery  by  the 
First  Minnesota. 

Wheat  was  only  fifty-five  cents  per  bushel  at  the  mills. 

Early  in  February  Dr.  A.  A.  Ames  graduated  at  Eush 
College.  This  was  the  first  graduation  of  a  Minneapolis  boy 
at  any  medical  college. 

H.  E.  Purdy,  the  former  talented  editor  of  the  Plaindealer 
in  Minneapolis,  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  newspaper  busi- 
ness in  Minnesota  and  removed  to  Belmont,  New  York,  where 
he  resumed  editorial  charge  of  the  Southern  Free-Trader. 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  359 

Col.  King  was  of  the  opinion  that  Mr.  Purdy  used  porcupine 
quills  in  editorial  writing. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Minneapolis  Atheneum  this 
year  David  Morgan  was  elected  president,  Samuel  C.  Gale 
vice-president,  David  C.  Bell  secretary,  and  Thomas  Hale 
Williams  treasurer.  The  board  of  directors  consisted  of  Dr. 
A.  L.  Bausman,  Frank  Beebe,  and  J.  H.  Green.  There  were 
at  that  time  only  1,713  volumes  in  the  library. 

Godfrey  Sheitlin,  who  had  been  a  resident  of  Minneapolis 
for  a  year  or  two,  engaged  largely  in  the  ginseng  trade,  pay- 
ing out  over  $50,000  during  the  year  for  the  root.  He  intro- 
duced borage,  rape,  and  poppy  seed  on  a  large  scale,  and 
found  those  articles  could  be  profitably  grown.  He  also 
experimented  in  making  wine  from  rhubard,  raspberry,  straw- 
berry, currant  and  cranberry.  In  all  he  made  some  fifty 
barrels  of  wine  out  of  the  diif'erent  native  fruits.  With  oth- 
ers he  established  a  large  linseed-oil  factory. 

On  March  9th  this  year  Dr.  C.  L.  Anderson  left  the  Falls 
overland  for  the  Pacific  Coast.  He  liad  many  friends,  and 
his  departure  was  deeply  regretted. 

As  spring  approached  it  was  evident  that  the  several  man- 
ufacturing industries  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  were  about 
entering  upon  a  career  of  prosperity.  The  large  iron  works 
of  Messrs.  Scott  &  Morgan,  as  well  as  the  factories  of  B.  C. 
and  O.  H.  Rogers,  and  Captain  John  Eollins,  were  crowded 
with  work,  and  the  flour  and  lumber  mills  were  prosperous. 

The  Hennepin  county  Temperance  League  was  organized 
in  March  with  Dr.  Geo.  H.  Keith,  president ;  Jared  S.  Dem- 
mon,  Geo.  W.  Chowen,  and  T.  L.  Curtis,  vice-presidents  ; 
Geo.  F.  Bradley,  secretary  ;  O.  M.  Laraway,  treasurer ;  and 
H.  N.  Herrick,  W.  R.  Smith,  Geo.  H.  Rust,  J.  C.  Williams, 
and  A.  H.  Rose,  directors. 

At  the  town  election  held  April  1st  S.  H.  Mattison,  J.  H. 
Jones,  and  F.  Beebe  were  elected  township  supervisors  ;  D. 
R.  Barber,  assessor  ;  Geo.  A.  Savory,  clerk  ;  R.  J.  Menden- 
hall,  treasurer  ;  J.  C.  Williams  and  John  Murray,  jr.,  justices; 
M.  Nodaker  and  Hiram  W.  Wagner,  constables  ;  with  James 
O.  Weld,  road-overseer  in  the  first  ward  ;  S.  H.  Mattison, 
second  ward  ;  E.  B.  Ames,  third  ward  ;  and  Martin  Layman, 
fourth   ward.     The   city   charter  of  Minneapolis  had  been 


360  PEKSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

repealed  by  an  act  of  the  legislature.  This  was  done  by  a 
petition  of  the  citizens  in  the  interest  of  economy  ;  a  town- 
ship government  being  much  cheaper  ;  and  to  show  the  patri- 
otism of  that  period  I  will  mention  that  the  salary  of  the 
officers  were  only  one  dollar  per  day.  Even  the  services  of 
that  efficient  man,  D.  R.  Barber,  as  assessor,  were  only  com- 
pensated for  with  that  sum  per  day.  "With  the  prospect  of 
high  taxes  to  support  the  government  during  the  war,  the 
citizens  at  the  Falls  reduced  the  taxes  for  the  support  of  their 
municipal  organization  to  the  lowest  possible  amount.  Always 
patriotic,  no  portion  of  the  Union  contributed  more  liberally 
to  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion. 

The  municipal  officers  in  St.  Anthony  this  year  were  O.  C. 
Merriman,  mayor  ;  W.  W.  Wales,  city  clerk  ;  David  Edwards, 
assessor  ;  "Wm.  Lashells,  super\dsor  ;  E.  Lippencott,  marshal. 

Dr.  K.  Spencer  became  a  dentist  at  the  Falls  this  spring. 
Captain  Tapper,  so  long  employed  at  the  ferry  and  the  sus- 
pension-bridge, moved  to  his  farm  in  Iowa.  Judge  William 
Lochran  resigned  his  trusts  and  went  to  the  war.  Dan  M. 
Demmon  was  selected  as  alderman  in  place  of  Wm.  Lochran. 
Wyman  Elliott  commenced  a  market  garden  on  a  large  scale. 

The  ladies  of  the  county  organized  a  Soldiers'  Aid  Society 
with  Mrs.  F.  R.  E.  Cornell,  president  ;  Mrs.  Dorillus  Morri- 
son and  Miss  Nellie  Elliott,  vice-presidents  ;  Miss  Littie  Hob- 
lett,  secretary  ;  Mrs.  Harlow  A.  Gale,  treasurer  ;  and  Mrs. 
A.  D.  Foster,  Mrs.  Washington  Pierce,  Mrs.  E.  A.  Davis, 
Mrs.  Town,  Mrs.  Bissel,  Miss  L.  F.  Hawkins,  and  Miss  Lucy 
Morgan,  managers.  This  organization  accomplished  a  noble 
work  for  the  soldiers.  Mrs.  Foster,  the  head  of  the  board  of 
managers,  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  St.  Anthony,  hav- 
ing accompanied  her  husband,  Mr.  A.  D.  Foster,  to  the  Falls 
in  1848.  She  was  a  worthy  contemporary  of  those  excellent 
pioneer  ladies,  Mrs.  R.  P.  Russell,  Mrs.  Ard  Godfrey,  Mrs. 
Captain  John  Rollins,  and  Mrs.  Anson  Northrup.  Both  Mrs. 
Foster  and  her  husband  have  always  taken  an  interest  in  all 
that  would  benefit  the  community. 

As  the  summer  advanced,  military  matters  became  lively. 
O.  C.  Merriman,  Richard  Strout,  J.  C.  Whitney,  and  Geo.  A. 
Camp,  raised  companies  of  men  for  the  war.  A  little  later 
Eugene  M.  Wilson  was  at  the  head  of  a  company  of  mounted 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  3G1 

rangers.  W.  F.  Russell  had  secured  a  company  of  sharp- 
shooters. In  the  meantime  Captain  Geo.  N.  Morgan  of  St. 
Anthony  had  been  })romoted  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  brave  and 
far-famod  First  Minnesota,  C.  B.  Hotrelfinger  of  Minneapolis 
promoted  from  a  sergeant  to  a  first  lieutenancy  in  the  same 
regiment,  AVilliam  AV.*  AVoodbury  to  a  captaincy ;  James  P. 
Howlett,  to  quartermaster  ;  Levi  Butler,  to  surgeon  ;  M.  K. 
Greely,  to  assistant-surgeon  ;  and  several  other  promotions 
followed  in  rapid  order. 

P.  H.  Kelly  of  Minneapolis  aided  in  securing  men  and 
material  for  the  army.  D.  Morrison,  "W.  D.  AVashburn,  G. 
AV.  Chowen,  G.  H.  Bust,  B.  J.  Baldwin,  H.  G.  Harrison,  S. 
AV.  Farnham,  D.  B.  Dorman,  E.  AA'.  Cutter,  AA^m.  Finch,  Paris 
Gibson,  and  Bichard  Strout,  were  a  committee  appointed  by 
the  citizens  of  the  county  to  raise  money  for  the  benefit  of 
the  families  of  those  noble  men  who  enlisted  at  this  time. 

Prof.  Geo.  B.  Stone,  who  had  accomi)lished  so  much  in  the 
public  schools  at  Minneapolis  for  the  benefit  of  the  students, 
retired  from  the  sui)erintendency  at  the  close  of  the  Septem- 
ber term.     As  and  educator  he  had  no  superior. 

AAliile  the  citizens  at  the  Falls  were  aiding  in  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  rebellion,  news  was  brought  through  the  big 
woods  to  Governor  Bamsey  at  St.  Paul,  by  Captain  Geo.  C. 
AA'hitcomb,  of  the  first  massacre  of  whites  by  the  Indians  in 
Meeker  county.  This  news  was  received  on  the  19th,  and 
almost  simultaneousl}^  with  news  of  murders  a  day  later  at 
the  Bedwood  Indian  agency.  The  day  after  this,  Augiist  20, 
Minneapolis  and  St.  Anthony  was  filled  with  refugees  from 
the  frontier.  It  is  unnecessary  to  Si\y  that  the  doors  of  the 
citizens  were  thrown  open  to  those  fleeing  for  their  lives,  and 
every  possible  assistance  was  rendered.  Meantime  every 
means  was  taken  to  check  the  the  overwhelming  disaster. 

Events  which  occurred  on  the  frontier  were  of  the  most 
painfully  absorbing  interest.     They  are  recorded  elsewhere. 


CHAPTEE  XLVn. 

THE   SIOUX   MASSACRE   OF   EIGHTEEN    HUNDRED  AND  SIXTY-TWO, 

I  come  now  to  the  Sioux  Massacre  of  1862  ;  not  to  write 
a  history  of  its  momentous  events  ;  but  to  present  a  brief  nar- 
ration of  some  of  the  incidents  that  made  such  a  painfully- 
vivid  impression  upon  the  frontier  settlers  of  the  Northwest  ;. 
presenting,  as  it  does,  an  exhibition  of  the  darkest  passions, 
and  the  perpetration  of  crimes  the  most  revolting  that  a  sav- 
age nature  can  conceive.  It  was  infamous  in  its  conception, 
fiendish  in  its  execution,  and  fearfully  disastrous  alike  to  whitea 
and  Indians.  There  are  those  who  freely  express  their 
conviction  that  no  reference  to  the  immediate  precipitation 
of  that  massacre  can  be  complete,  correct  and  just,  that  does 
not  include,  among  the  other  numerous  causes,  the  statement 
that  the  leaders  engaged  in  it  thought  the  union  of  the  states 
would  be  destroyed,  and  that  then  was  their  opportunity  to 
repossess  the  lands  they  had  ceded  to  the  government.  The 
withdrawal  of  the  troops  from  the  frontier,  the  battles  disas- 
trous to  the  Union  arms,  the  seemingly  financial  embarrass- 
ment that  delayed  the  payment  of  their  annuities,  gave  plausi- 
bility to  those  ideas.  The  combined  result  was  the  massacre 
of  1862,  that  was  one  of  unparalleled  mutilation,  murder  and 
rapine. 
SOME   OF   THE  CAUSES   OF   THE   OUTBREAK  —NEAR   AND   REMOTE. 

The  Dakota  annuity  tribes  in  Minnesota  at  the  time  of  the 
outbreak  were  the  Medawakontons,  Wapatons,  Sissetons,  and 
Wapakutas,  numbering  in  all  about  6,200  persons.  Their 
annuities  aggregated  about  $555,000.     These  tribes  were  con- 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  363 

nected  with  wild  bands  scattered  over  a  large  extent  of  coun- 
try, including  Dakota  and  west  of  the  Missouri  to  the  Rocky- 
mountains.  The  government  had  provided  a  civilization  fund 
to  be  taken  from  their  annuities  and  expended  in  improve- 
ments on  the  lands  of  such  of  them  as  should  abandon  their 
tril)al  relations  and  a(loi)t  the  mode  of  life  of  the  whites.  The 
wild,  blanket  Indians  denounced  the  measure  as  a  fraud  upon 
their  rights. 

Major  Galbraith,  Sioux  Agent,  writes  :  The  radical,  moving 
<;ause  of  the  outbreak  is,  I  am  satisfied,  the  ingrained  and 
fixed  hostility  of  the  savage  barbarian  to  reform  and  civiliza- 
tion. As  in  all  barbarous  communities,  in  the  history  of  the 
world,  the  same  people  have,  for  the  most  part,  resisted  the 
encroachments  of  civilization  upon  their  ancient  customs  ;  so 
it  is  in  the  case  before  us.  Nor  does  it  matter  materially  in 
what  shape  civilization  makes  its  attack.  Hostile,  opposing 
forces  meet  in  conflict,  and  a  war  of  social  elements  is  the 
result — civilization  is  aggressive,  and  barbarism  stubbornly 
resistant.  Sometimes,  indeed,  civilization  has  achieved  a 
bloodless  victory,  but  generally  it  has  been  otherwise." 

Whatever  the  cause  of  the  tragedy,  the  execution  was  the 
result  of  a  conspiracy  under  the  guise  of  a  "  Soldiers'  Lodge", 
and  matured  in  secret  Indian  councils.  In  all  these  secret 
movements  Little  Crow  was  the  moving  spirit. 

THE   SITUATION   AT   THE   CRITICAL   MOMENT. 

Now  the  opportune  moment  seemed  to  have  come.  Only 
thirty  soldiers  were  stationed  at  Fort  Ridgely.  Some  thirty 
were  all  that  Fort  Eipley  could  muster,  and  at  Fort  Aber- 
crombie  one  company  was  all  the  whites  could  depend  upon 
to  repel  any  attack  in  that  quarter.  The  whole  effective  force 
for  the  defense  of  the  entire  frontier,  from  Pembina  to  the 
Iowa  line,  did  not  exceed  two  hundred  men. 

It  is  in  evidence  that  Little  Crow  repeatedly  stated  in  the 
secret  councils  that  the  Indians  could  kill  all  the  white  men 
in  the  Minnesota  Valley,  and  get  all  their  lands  back,  as  well 
as  finally  receive  double  annuities. 

THE   FIRST   VICTIMS   OF   THE   SAVAGES. 

The  first  blow  fell  upon  the  town  of  Acton,  thirty-five  miles 
northeast  of  the  Lower  Sioux  Agency,  in  Meeker  county, 
on  Sunday,  August  17th,  1862,  at  1  o'clock  p.  m.,  where  six 


364  PERSONAL  EECOLLECTIONS 

Indians  of  Sliakopee's  band  killed  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones,  Mr. 
Baker,  Mr.  Webster,  and  Miss  Wilson,  and  then  fled.  This 
attack  seems  to  have  been  unauthorized  and  premature,  for 
on  the  same  day  a  counsel  was  held,  presided  over  by  Little 
Crow,  at  Rice  creek,  some  forty  miles  distant,  at  which  it 
was  decided  that  a  general  massacre  of  the  whites  should 
commence  the  next  morning.  The  final  decision  was  made 
about  sundown,  and  early  the  next  morning  the  entire  force 
of  warriors  of  the  Lower  tribes,  painted  and  armed,  were 
scattered  over  a  region  forty  miles  in  extent,  ready  for  the 
slaughter.  There  were  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  these 
at  the  Lower  Agency,  who  surroimded  the  houses  and  stores, 
before  some  of  the  inmates  were  awake.  The  blow  was 
entirely  unexpected.  The  traders  and  government  employes 
were  killed,  the  stores  plundered,  and  the  buildings  burned. 
Nathan  Myrick,  James  W.  Lynd,  A.  J.  Myrick,  and  G.  W. 
Divoll  were  among  the  first  victims.  W.  H.  Forbes  and  G. 
H.  Spencer,  though  severely  wounded,  escaped. 

THE   INDIANS   SPARE   NOT  THEIR   EARLIEST   AND  BEST   FRIENDS. 

Early  on  this  fatal  Monday  morning  Mr.  Prescott  and  Rev. 
J.  D.  Hinman  learned  from  Little  Crow  that  the  storm  of 
savage  wrath  was  gathering,  and  that  their  only  safety  was 
in  instant  flight.  Mrs.  Hinman  was,  fortunately,  at  Faribault. 
The  white-haired  interpreter,  Philander  Prescott,  nearly  sev- 
enty years  of  age,  hastily  left  his  house  soon  after  his  meeting 
with  Little  Crow,  and  fled  toward  Fort  Kidgcly.  The  other 
members  of  his  family  remained  behind,  knowing  that  their 
relations  to  the  tribe  would  save  them.  Mr.  Prescott  had 
gone  several  miles  along  the  west  bank  of  the  Minnesota  river 
when  he  was  overtaken.  His  murderers  came  and  talked  with 
him.  He  reasoned  with  them,  saying  :  "I  am  an  old  man  ;  I 
have  lived  with  you  now  forty-five  years,  almost  half  a  cen- 
tury. My  wife  and  children  are  among  you,  of  your  own 
blood  ;  I  have  never  done  you  any  harm,  and  have  been  your 
true  friend  in  all  your  troubles  ;  why  should  you  wish  to  kill 
me  ?"  Their  reply  was  :  "  We  would  save  your  life  if  we 
could,  but  the  white  man  must  die  ;  we  cannot  spare  your 
life  ;  our  orders  are  to  kill  all  whitemen  ;  we  cannotspare  you." 
It  is  said  upon  the  authority  of  the  Indians  that  he  was  shot 
while  talking  with  them  and  looking  calmly  into  their  eyes. 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  305 

Mr.  Prescott  was  the  time,  tried,  and  faithful  friend  of  the 
Indian,  and  had  labored  long  in  their  interest.  His  benevo- 
lence to  the  red-men  kept  him  ever  poor.  Mr.  Hinman 
escaped  to  Fort  Ridgely. 

The  number  of  persons  who  reached  Fort  Kidgley  from  the 
Lower  Agency  was  forty-one.  Some  arrived  at  other  places 
of  safety.  Among  those  who  escaped  were  J.  C.  Whipple,  C. 
B.  Hewitt ;  and  J.  C.  Dickinson  and  family,  including  several 
girls,  who  kept  the  government  boarding-house.  Mr.  Hunter 
was  killed  on  the  way,  as  was  also  Dr.  P.  P.  Humphrey,  the 
physician  to  the  Lower  Sioux,  with  his  sick  wife  and  two 
children.  The  doctor's  eldest  boy  of  about  twelve  years 
escaped. 

At  the  Redwood  river  ten  miles  above  the  Agency,  on  the 
road  to  Yellow  Medicine,  resided  Mr.  Joseph  B.  Reynolds,  in 
the  employment  of  the  government  as  a  teacher.  His  house 
was  within  one  mile  of  Shakopee's  village.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  his  wife  and  niece — Miss  Mattie  Williams — Mary 
Anderson  and  Mary  Schwandt,  hired  girls.  William  Land- 
meier,  a  hired  man,  and  Legrand  Davis,  a  young  man  from 
Shakopee,  was  also  stopping  with  them  temporarily.  Mr. 
Patoile,  a  trader  from  Yellow  Medicine,  was  also  there,  on  his 
way  to  New  Ulm.  On  Monday  morning,  learning  of  their 
danger,  they  started  out  on  the  prairie,  and  when  nearly 
opposite  Fort  Ridgely,  Petoile  and  Davis  were  killed-  Mary 
Schwandt  was  wounded,  and  died  soon  after.  Mary  Ander- 
son and  Miss  Williams  were  captured  unhurt. 

On  Sunday,  the  17th,  George  Gleason,  government  store- 
keeper at  the  Lower  Agency,  accompanied  the  family  of 
Agent  Galbraith  to  Yellow  Medicine,  and  on  Monday  after- 
noon, ignorant  of  the  terrible  tragedy  enacted  below,  started 
to  return.  He  had  with  him  the  wife  and  two  children  of  Dr. 
J.  S.  Wakefield,  physician  to  the  Upper  Sioux.  On  the  way 
he  was  killed,  and  Mrs.  Wakefield  and  two  childi-en  captured. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  the  settlers  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Minnesota  river,  adjoining  the  reservation,  were 
surprised  to  see  a  large  number  of  Indians  in  their  immedi- 
ate neighborhood.  They  were  seen  soon  after  the  people 
arose,  simultaneously,  all  along  the  rivef  from  Birch  Coolie 
to  Beaver  Creek,  and  beyond,  on  the  west,  apparently  intent 


366  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

on  gathering  up  the  horses  and  cattle.  When  interrogated, 
they  said  they  were  after  Chippewas.  At  about  6  or  7  o'clock 
they  suddenly  began  to  repair  to  the  various  houses  of  the 
settlers,  and  then  the  flight  of  the  inhabitants  and  the  work 
of  death  began. 

In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Beaver  Creek,  the  neighbors, 
to  the  number  of  about  twenty-eight,  men,  women,  and 
children,  assembled  at  the  house  of  John  W.  Earle  and,  with 
several  teams,  started  for  Fort  Ridgely,  having  with  them  the 
sick  wife  of  S.  R.  Henderson,  her  children,  and  the  family  of 
N.  D.  White,  and  the  wife  and  two  children  of  Jas.  Carothers. 
There  were  also  David  Carothers  and  family,  Earle  and  fam- 
ily, Henderson,  and  a  German  named  Wedge,  besides  four 
sons  of  White  and  Earle  ;  the  rest  were  women  and  children. 
They  had  gone  but  a  short  distance  when  they  were  sur- 
rounded by  Indians.  When  asked,  by  some  of  the  party  who 
could  speak  their  language,  what  they  wanted,  the  Indians 
answered,  "  We  are  going  to  kill  you."  Wedge,  Mrs.  Hen- 
derson and  children,  Eugene  White,  and  N.  D.  White,  and 
Redner,  son  of  J.  W.  Earle,  were  killed.  The  other  men 
escaped,  and  the  women  and  children  were  captured. 

WHOLE   GERMAN   SETTLEMENTS   ANNIHILATED. 

Some  two  miles  above  the  neighborhood  of  Earle  and 
White  was  a  settlement  of  German  emigrants,  numbering 
some  forty  persons.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  these 
had  assembled  at  the  house  of  John  Meyer.  Very  soon  after, 
some  fifty  Indians,  led  by  Shakopee,  appeared  in  sight.  The 
people  all  fled,  except  Meyer  and  his  family,  going  into  the 
grass  and  bushes.  Peter  Bjorkman  ran  toward  his  own  house. 
Shakopee,  whom  he  knew,  saw  him,  and  exclaimed,  "  There  is 
Bjorkman  ;  kill  him  !"  but  keeping  the  building  between  him 
and  the  savages,  he  plunged  into  a  slough  and  concealed  him- 
self, even  removing  his  shirt,  fearing  it  might  reveal  his 
whereabouts  to  the  savages.  Here  he  lay  from  early  morn- 
ing until  the  darkness  of  night  enabled  him  to  leave — mos- 
quitoes swarming  upon  his  naked  person,  and  the  hot  sun 
scorching  him  to  the  bone.  The  Indians  immediately  attacked 
the  house  of  Meyer,  killing  his  wife  and  all  his  children. 
Seeing  his  family  butchered,  and  having  no  means  of  defense, 
Meyer  effected  his  escape,  and  reached  Fort  Ridgely.     In  the 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  367 

meantime  the  affrighted  people  had  got  together  again  at  the 
house  of  a  Mr.  Sitzou,  near  Bjorkman's  to  the  number  of 
about  thirty,  men,  women,  and  children.  In  the  afternoon 
the  savages  returned  to  the  house  of  Bitzon,  killing  every 
person  there  except  Mrs.  Eindefield  and  her  child.  From  his 
place  of  concealment  Mr.  Bjorkman  witnessed  this  attack  and 
massacre  of  an  entire  neighborhood.  At  night  he  escaped. 
On  the  way  he  overtook  a  woman  and  two  children,  one  an 
infant  of  six  months,  the  wife  and  children  of  John  Sateau, 
who  had  been  killed.  Taking  one  of  the  children  in  his  arms, 
these  companions  in  suffering  hurried  on  together,  Mrs.  S. 
was  nearly  naked,  and  without  shoes  or  stockings.  They 
finally  reached  the  Fort,  where  Mrs.  Sateau  found  two  sons, 
aged  ten  and  twelve  years,  who  had  reached  there  before  her. 

Near '  Beaver  Creek  Patrick  Hayden,  John  Hayden,  Mr. 
Eisenrich,  Mr.  Euue,  Edward  Manger,  Patrick  Kelley,  and 
David  O'Connor  were  killed.  Four  miles  from  the  Lower 
Sioux  Agency,  on  the  Fort  road,  Thomas  Smith,  and  Mr. 
Sampson  and  two  children  were  killed.  Near  Birch  Coolie 
Peter  Pereau,  Andrew  Bahlke,  Henry  Keartner,  old  Mr. 
Closen,  Frederick  Closen,  Mr.  Pigaur,  and  Mrs.  William  Vitt 
were  killed. 

A  flourishing  German  settlement  had  sprung  up  twelve 
miles  below  Yellow  Medicine.  They  learned  of  their  danger 
on  the  evening  of  the  18th,  and  the  whole  neighborhood,  with 
the  exception  of  one  family,  assembled  at  the  house  of  Paul 
Kitzman,  and  struck  out  on  the  prairie  toward  the  head  of 
Beaver  creek.  They  traveled  all  night,  and  in  the  morning 
changed  their  course  toward  Fort  Ridgely.  They  continued 
in  this  direction  until  the  sun  was  some  two  hours  high,  when 
they  were  met  by  eight  Sioux  Indians,  who  told  them  that 
the  murders  were  committed  by  Chippewas,  and  that  they  had 
come  over  to  protect  them  and  punish  the  murderers  ;  and 
thus  induced  them  to  turn  back  toward  their  homes.  One 
of  the  savages  spoke  English  well.  He  was  acquainted  with 
some  of  the  company,  having  often  hunted  with  Paul  Kitz- 
man. He  kissed  Kitzman,  telling  him  he  was  a  good  man  ; 
and  they  shook  hands  with  all  of  the  party.  The  simple- 
hearted  Germans  believed  them,  gave  them  food,  distributed 
money  among  them  and,  gratefully  receiving  their  assurances 


368  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

of  friendship  and  protection,  turned  back.  When  near  their 
home  they  were  suddenly  surrounded  by  fourteen  Indians, 
who  instantly  fired  upon  them.  All  of  the  eleven  white  men 
were  killed.  Only  two  of  the  women  and  a  few  of  the  children 
escaped  death.  Over  forty  bodies  were  afterwards  found  and 
buried  on  that  field  of  slaughter. 

BATTLE   AT   THE   LOWER    AGENCY    FERRY. 

On  Monday  morning,  the  18th  of  August,  1862,  at  about  9 
o'clock,  a  messenger  arrived  at  Fort  Ridgely,  from  the  Lower 
Sioux  Agency,  with  news  th?it  the  Indians  were  massacring 
the  whites  at  that  place.  Captain  John  S.  Marsh,  of  Com- 
pany B,  Fifth  Eegiment  Minnesota  Volunteers,  then  in  com- 
mand, took  a  detachment  of  forty-six  men  ( there  were  then 
in  the  Fort  only  seventy-five  or  eighty  men),  and  accompa- 
nied by  Interpreter  Quinn,  immediately  started  for  the  agency, 
distant  twelve  miles.  They  made  a  very  rapid  march.  When 
within  about  four  miles  of  the  ferry,  opposite  the  Agency, 
they  met  the  ferryman,  Mr.  Martelle,  who  informed  Captain 
Marsh  that  the  Indians  were  in  considerable  force,  and  were 
murdering  all  the  people,  and  advised  him  to  return.  He 
replied  that  he  was  there  to  protect  and  defend  the  frontier, 
and  he  should  do  so  if  it  was  in  his  power,  and  gave  the  order 
"Forward!"  Between  this  point  and  the  river  they  passed 
nine  dead  bodies  on  or  near  the  road.  Arriving  near  the 
ferry,  the  company  halted,  and  Corporal  Ezekiel  Eose  was 
sent  forward  to  examine  the  ferry,  and  see  if  it  was  all  right. 
The  captain  and  interpreter  were  mounted  on  mules,  the  men 
were  on  foot,  and  formed  in  two  ranks  in  the  road,  near  the 
ferry-house,  a  few  rods  from  the  banks  of  the  river.  The 
corporal  had  taken  a  pail  with  him  to  the  river,  and  returned, 
reporting  the  ferry  all  right,  bringing  with  him  water  for  the 
exhausted  and  thirsty  men. 

In  the  meantime  an  Indian  had  made  his  appearance  on  the 
opposite  bank,  and  calling  to  Quinn,  urged  them  to  come 
across,  telling  him  all  was  right  on  that  side.  The  suspicions 
of  the  captain  were  at  once  aroused,  and  he  ordered  the  men 
to  remain  in  their  places,  until  he  could  ascertain  whether  the 
Indians  were  in  ambush  in  the  ravines  on  the  opposite  shore. 
The  men  were  in  the  act  of  drinking,  when  the  savage  on  the 
opposite   side,  seeing  they  were  not  going  to  cross  at  once, 


i 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND   ITS   PEOPLE.  369 

fired  his  gim,  as  a  sij^nal,  when  instantly  there  arose  out  of 
the  grass  and  brush,  all  around  them,  some  four  or  five  hun- 
dred warriors,  who  poured  a  terrific  volley  upon  the  devoted 
band.  The  aged  interpreter  fell  from  his  mule,  pierced  by 
more  than  twenty  balls.  The  captain's  mule  fell  dead,  but  he 
himself  sprang  to  the  ground  uidiarmed.  Several  of  the  men 
fell  at  this  first  fire.  The  testimony  of  the  survivors  of  this 
sanguinary  engagement  is,  that  their  brave  commander  was 
as  cool  and  collected  as  if  on  dress  parade.  They  retreated 
down  the  stream  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  fighting  their  w^ay 
inch  by  inch,  when  it  was  discovered  that  a  body  of  Indians, 
taking  advantage  of  a  bend  in  the  river,  had  gone  across  and 
gained  the  bank  below  them. 

The  heroic  little  band  was  already  reduced  to  about  half  its 
original  number.  To  cut  their  way  through  this  large  num- 
ber of  Indians  was  impossible.  Their  only  hope  now  was  to 
cross  the  river  to  the  reservation,  as  there  appeared  to  be  no 
Indians  on  that  shore,  retreat  down  that  side  and  recross  to 
the  fort.  The  river  was  supposed  to  be  fordable  where  they 
were  and,  accordingly,  Captain  Marsh  gave  the  order  to  cross. 
Taking  his  sword  in  one  hand  and  his  revolver  in  the  other, 
accompanied  by  his  men,  he  waded  out  into  the  stream.  It 
was  very  soon  ascertained  that  they  must  swim,  when  those 
who  could  not  do  so  returned  to  the  shore  and  hid  in  the  grass 
as  best  they  could,  while  those  who  could  dropped  their  arms 
and  struck  out  for  the  opposite  side.  Among  these  latter  was 
Captain  Marsh.  When  near  the  opposite  shore  he  was  struck 
by  a  ball,  and  immediately  sank,  but  arose  again  to  the  sur- 
face, and  grasped  the  shoulder  of  a  man  at  his  side,  but  the 
garment  gave  way  in  his  grasp,  and  he  again  sank,  this  time 
to  rise  no  more.  Thirteen  of  the  men  reached  the  bank  in 
safety,  and  returned  to  the  fort  that  night.  Those  who 
were  unable  to  cross  remained  in  the  grass  and  bushes  until 
night,  when  they  made  their  way  to  the  fort  or  settlements. 

These  are  only  a  few  of  the  incidents  of  this  terrible  mas- 
sacre near  the  Lower  Sioux  Agency.  The  horrible  details 
of  mutilation,  and  worse  crimes  than  murder,  are  here  unre- 
corded out  of  respect  for  the  victims,  living  and  dead.  Turn 
we  now  to  tragedies  of  the  same  day  enacted  elsewhere. 


CHAPTEK  XLVIII. 

EVENTS  AT  THE  UPPER  OR  YELLOW  MEDICINE  AGENCY. 

During  all  that  fatal  18tli  of  August,  the  people  at  the  Upper 
Agency  pursued  their  usual  avocations.  As  night  approached, 
however,  an  unusual  gathering  of  Indians  was  observed  on  the 
hill  just  west  of  the  Agency,  and  between  it  and  the  house  of 
John  Other  Day.  Judge  Givens  and  Charles  Crawford,  then 
acting  as  interpreters  in  the  absence  of  Freniere,  went  out  to 
them,  and  sought  to  learn  why  they  were  there  in  council,  but 
could  get  no  satisfactory  reply.  Soon  after  this,  Other  Day 
came  to  them  with  the  news  of  the  outbreak  below,  as  did  also 
Joseph  Laframboise,  a  half-breed  Sioux.  The  families  there 
were  soon  all  gathered  together  in  the  warehouse  and  dwelling 
of  the  agent,  who  resided  in  the  same  building,  and  with  the 
guns  they  had,  prepared  themselves  as  best  they  could,  and 
awaited  tlie  attack,  determined  to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as 
possible.  There  were  gathered  here  sixty-two  persons,  men, 
women,  and  children. 

Other  Day,  and  several  other  Indians,  who  came  to  them, 
told  them  they  would  stand  by  them  to  the  last.  These  men 
visited  the  council  outside  several  times  during  the  night ; 
but  when  they  were  most  needed,  one  only,  the  noble  and 
heroic  Other  Day,  remained  faithful.  All  the  others  disap- 
peared, one  after  another,  during  the  night. 

About  1  or  2  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Stewart  B.  Garvie, 
connected  with  the  traders'  store,  known  as  Myrick's,  came  to 
the  warehouse,  and  was  admitted,  badly  wounded,  a  charge  of 
buckshot  having  entered  his  bowels.  Garvie  was  standing  in 
the  doorway  of  his  store  when  he  was  fired  upon.     At  abou* 


OF    MINNESOTA    AnI)    ITS    I'KOPLE.  371 

this  time  Joseph  Lafraniboise  went  to  the  store  of  Daily  & 
Pratt,  and  told  the  two  men  in  charge  there,  Duncan  11.  Ken- 
nedy and  J.  D.  Bcjardnian,  to  flee  for  their  lives.  They  had 
not  gone  ten  rods  when  they  saw  in  the  path  before  them 
three  Indians.  They  stepped  down  from  the  path,  which  ran 
along  the  edge  of  a  rise  in  the  ground  of  some  feet,  and 
crouching  in  the  grass,  the  Indians  passed  within  eight  feet 
of  them.  Kennedy  escaped  to  Fort  Kidgely,  and  Boardman 
went  to  the  warehouse. 

WONDEKFUL   ESCAPE   OF   YOUNG   rATOILE. 

At  the  store  of  AVm.  H.  Forbes,  Constans,  book-keeper,  a 
native  of  France,  was  killed.  At  the  store  of  Patoile,  Peter 
Patoile,  a  nephew  of  the  proprieter,  was  shot  just  outside  the 
store,  the  ball  entering  at  the  back  and  coming  out  near  the 
nipple,  passing  through  his  lungs.  An  Indian  came  to  him 
after  he  fell,  turned  him  over,  and  saying,  "  He  is  dead,"  left 
him.  The  clerks  in  the  store  of  Louis  Roberts  had  effected 
their  escape.  When  the  Indians  became  absorbed  in  the 
work  of  plunder,  Patoile  crawled  off  into  the  bushes,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Yellow  Medicine,  and  secreted  himself.  Here 
he  remained  all  day.  After  dark  he  ascended  the  bluff*  out  of 
the  Yellow  Medicine  bottom,  and  dragged  himself  a  mile  and 
a  half  further,  to  the  Minnesota,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yellow- 
Medicine.  Wading  the  Minnesota,  he  entered  the  house  of 
Louis  Labelle,  on  the  opjjosite  side,  at  the  ford.  It  was 
deserted.  He  lay  down  upon  a  bed  and  slept  until  morning. 
Joseph  Laframboise,  Narces  Freniere,  and  an  Indian,  Maka- 
cago,  found  him  there  and  awoke  him,  telling  him  there  were 
hostile  Indians  about,  and  he  must  hide.  They  gave  him  a 
blanket  to  disguise  himself,  and  going  with  him  to  a  ravine, 
concealed  him  in  the  grass  and  left  him,  promising  to  return 
as  soon  as  it  was  safe  to  do  so,  to  bring  him  food,  and  guide 
him  to  the  prairie.  He  lay  in  this  ravine  until  near  night, 
when  his  friends,  true  to  their  promise,  returned,  bringing 
him  some  crackers,  tripe,  and  onions.  They  went  with  him 
some  distance  out  on  the  prairie,  and  enjoined  ujxm  him  not 
to  attempt  to  go  to  Fort  llidgely,  and  giving  him  the  best 
directions  that  they  could  as  to  the  course  he  should  take, 
shook  hands  with  him  and  left  him.  Their  names  should  be 
inscribed  upon  tablets  more  enduriug  than  brass. 


372  PERSONAL  •recollections 

Over  an  unknown  region  without  an  inhabitant,  sleeping 
on  the  prairie  and  in  deserted  houses,  wounded,  without  food 
for  days  after  his  scanty  supply  was  exhausted,  young  Patoile 
wandered,  traveling  some  two  hundred  miles  in  twelve  days, 
when  he  came  to  some  white  men  who  had  returned  to  the 
homes  they  had  deserted  to  look  after  their  crops  and  cattle. 
He  was  in  the  Sauk  Valley,  forty  miles  above  St.  Cloud.  He 
was  taken  in  a  wagon  by  these  men  to  St.  Cloud.  His  wounds 
were  dressed,  liis  recovery  was  rapid,  and  he  enlisted  in  the 
Minnesota  Mounted  Rangers  and  served  in  the  campaign  of 
1863,  against  the  Indians. 

OTHER    DAY,  A    FULL-BLOODED    INDIAN,    SAVES  A    LARGE    PARTY. 

We  now  return  to  the  warehouse  at  Yellow  Medicine,  which 
we  left  to  follow  the  strange  fortunes  of  young  Patoile.  Other 
Day  was  constantly  on  the  watch  outside,  and  reported  the 
progress  of  affairs  to  those  within.  Toward  daylight  the  yells 
of  the  savages  came  distinctly  to  their  ears  from  the  trading- 
post,  half  a  mile  distant.  The  Indians  were  absorbed  in  the 
work  of  plunder.  The  chances  of  escape  were  sadly  against 
the  whites,  yet  they  decided  to  make  the  attempt.  Other 
Day  knew  every  foot  of  the  country  over  which  they  must 
pass,  and  would  be  their  guide. 

The  wagons  were  driven  to  the  door.  A  bed  was  placed  in 
one  of  them,  and  Garvie  was  laid  upon  it.  The  women  pro- 
vided a  few  loaves  of  bread,  and  just  as  day  dawned,  they 
started  on  -their  perilous  way.  How  their  hearts  did  beat  ! 
This  party  consisted  of  the  family  of  Major  Galbraith,  wife 
and  three  children  ;  Nelson  Givens,  wife,  and  wife's  mother, 
and  three  children  ;  Noah  Sinks,  wife,  and  two  children  ; 
Henry  Eschelle,  wife,  and  five  children  ;  John  Fadden,  wife, 
and  three  children  ;  Mr.  German  and  wife  ;  Frederick  Patoile, 
wife,  and  two  children  ;  Mrs.  Jane  K.  Murcli,  Miss  Mary 
Charles,  Miss  Lizzie  Sawyer,  Miss  Mary  Daly,  Miss  Mary 
Hays,  Mrs.  Eleanor  Warner,  Mrs.  John  Other  Day  and  one 
child,  Mrs.  Haurahan,  N.  A.  Miller,  Edward  Cramsie,  Z. 
Hawkins,  Oscar  Canfil  ;  Mr.  Hill,  an  artist  from  St.  Paul  ; 
J.  D.  Boardman,  Parker  Pierce,  Dr.  J.  S.  Wakefield,  and 
eeveral  others. 

They  crossed  the  Minnesota,  and  escaped  by  way  of  the 
Kandiyohi  lakes  and  Glencoe.     Garvie  died  and  was  buried 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    J'KOl'LE.  373 

on  the  way.  Major  Galbraith  writes  :  "  Led  by  the  uoble 
Other  Day,  they  stru(*k  out  on  the  naked  prairie,  literally 
placing  their  lives  in  this  faithful  creatures  hands,  and  guided 
by  him,  and  him  alone.  After  intense  suffering  and  privation, 
they  reached  Shakopee  on  Friday  the  22d  of  August,  Other 
Day  never  leaving  them  for  an  instant ;  and  this  Other  Day 
is  a  pure,  full-blooded  Indian,  and  was,  not  long  since,  one  of 
the  wildest  and  fiercest  of  his  race." 

Govennnent  gave  John  Other  Day  a  farm  in  Minnesota. 
He  died  several  years  since.     His  wife  was  a  pure  white. 

Early  in  the  evening  of  Monday,  two  civilized  Indians, 
Chaskada  and  Tankanxaceye,  went  to  the  house  of  Dr.  AVil- 
liamson,  a  few  miles  above  the  Agency,  and  warned  them  of 
their  danger ;  and  two  half-breeds,  Michael  and  Gabriel 
Eenville,  and  two  Christian  Indians,  Paul  Maxacuta  Mani  and 
Simon  Anaga  Mani,  went  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Riggs,  the  mis- 
sionary at  Hazelwood,  and  ga^-e  them  warning  of  their  danger. 
There  were  at  this  place,  at  that  time,  the  family  of  Rev.  S. 
R.  Riggs,  Mr.  H.  D.  Cunningham  and  family,  Mr.  D.  W. 
Moore  and  his  wife,  and  Jonas  Pettijohn  and  family.  Mr. 
Petti  John  and  wife  were  in  charge  of  the  government  school 
at  Red  Iron's  village,  and  were  now  at  Mr.  Riggs'.  These 
friendly  Indians  went  with  them  to  an  island  in  the  Minne- 
sota, about  three  miles  from  the  mission.  Here  they  remained 
until  Tuesday  evening.  In  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday,  Andrew 
Hunter,  a  son-in-law  of  Dr.  Williamson,  came  to  him  Avith 
the  information  that  the  family  of  himself  and  the  Doctor 
were  secreted  below.  The  families  at  the  saw-mills  had  been 
informed  by  the  Renvilles,  and  were  with  the  party  of  Dr. 
Williamson.  At  night  they  formed  a  junction  and  commenced 
their  perilous  journey.  A  thunder-storm  effectually  obliter- 
ated their  tracks,  so  that  the  savages  could  not  follow  them, 
and  they  escaped.  On  the  way  they  were  joined  by  three 
Germans  who  had  escaped  from  Yellow  Medicine,  who  after- 
wards left  them,  with  a  young  man  named  Gilligan,  and  were 
killed.     All  the  others,  reached  the  settlements  unharmed. 

The  news  of  the  murders  below  reached  Leopold  Wohler, 
three  miles  below  Yellow  Medicine,  on  Mondaj^  afternoon. 
Taking  his  wife,  he  crossed  the  Minnesota  river,  to  the  house 
of  Major  Joseph  R.  Brown.     Major  Brown's  family  consisted 


374  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

of  his  wife  and  nine  children  ;  Angus  Brown  and  wife,  and 
Charles  Blair,  a  son-in-law,  his  wife  and  two  children.  The 
Major  was  away  from  home.  Including  Wohler  and  his  wife 
there  were  then  at  their  house,  on  the  evening  of  the  18th  of 
August,  eighteen  persons.  They  started  early  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  19th  to  make  their  escape,  with  one  or  two  of  their 
neighbors,  Charles  Holmec,  a  single  man,  being  of  the  party. 
They  were  overtaken  near  Beaver  Creek  by  Indians,  and  all 
of  the  Browns,  Mr.  Blair  and  family,  and  Mrs.  Wohler,  were 
captured,  and  taken  at  once  to  Little  Crow's  village.  Messrs. 
Wohler  and  Holmes  escaped.  Major  Brown's  family  were  of 
mixed  Indian  blood.  This  fact  probably  accounts  for  their 
saving  the  life  of  Blair,  who  was  a  white  man.  Crow  told  him 
to  go  away,  as  his  young  men  were  going  to  kill  him  ;  and  he 
escaped,  being  out  five  days  and  nights  without  food.  The 
sufferings  he  endured  caused  his  death  soon  after. 

J.  H.  Ingalls,  a  Scotchman,  who  resided  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  his  wife,  were  killed,  and  their  four  children  cap- 
tured. Two  of  them,  young  girls,  of  twelve  and  fourteen 
years,  were  rescued  at  Camp  Release.  The  two  little  boys 
were  taken  away  by  Little  Crow,  and  their  fate  is  shrouded 
in  mystery.  A  Mr.  Frace,  residing  near  Brown's  place,  was 
also  killed,  and  his  wife  and  children  captured. 

At  the  town  of  Leavenworth,  on  the  Cottonwood,  in  Brown 
county,  the  family  of  Mr.  Blum  were  all,  except  a  small  boy, 
killed  while  endeavoring  to  escape.  On  Tuesday  morning, 
Philetus  Jackson  was  killed  while  on  the  way  to  town  with 
his  wife  and  son.  Mrs.  Jackson  and  the  young  man  escaped. 
Mr.  Henshaw  and  Mr.  Whiton  were  also  killed. 

Early  in  the  forenoon  of  Monday,  August  18th,  Indians 
appeared  in  large  numbers  at  the  town  of  Milford,  adjoining 
New  Ulm.  The  first  house  visited  was  that  of  Wilson  Massi- 
post,  a  widower.  Mr.  Massipost  had  two  daughters,  intelli- 
gent and  accomplished.  These  the  savages  brutally  murdered. 
His  son,  a  young  man  of  twenty,  was  also  killed.  Mr.  Massi- 
post and  a  son  of  eight  years  escaped.  Mr.  Mesmer,  his  wife, 
son,  and  daughter,  were  instantly  shot.  At  the  house  of 
Agrenatz  Hanley  all  the  children  were  killed.  The  parents 
escaped.  Bastian  Mey,  wife,  and  two  children,  were  killed  in 
their  house,  and  three  children  terribly  mutilated  who  recov- 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  375 

ered.     Adolpli  Sliilliujjj  and  his  daughter  were  killed.     Two 
families,  those  of  Mr.  Zeller  and  Mr.  Zettle,  were  completely 
annihilated  :  not  one  left  to  tell  the  tale  of  their  sudden  des- 
truction.    Mr.  Brown,  and  son,  and  daughter,  were  killed. 
ONLY   A   GLIMPSE   OF   THE   SITUATION. 

Thirty  thouKaud  ])anic-Btricken  inhabitants  at  once  deserted 
their  homes,  and  were  destitute  of  the  necessaries  of  life. 
As  the  panic-stricken  fugitives  poured  along  the  various 
roads  leading  to  the  towns  below,  on  Mondayniight  and 
Tuesday,  indescribable  terror  seized  the  inhabitants  ;  and  the 
rapidly-accumulating  tide,  gathering  force  and  numbers  as  it 
moved  across  the  prairie,  rolled  an  overwhelming  flood  into 
the  towns  along  the  river.  As  no  wisdom  could  direct  it,  no 
force  resist  it,  so  no  pen  can  describe  it.  It  was  gloomy, 
chaotic,  terrific.  This  record,  incomplete,  inadequate,  seems 
insignificant,  when  we  consider  that  it  covers  but  a  small  por- 
tion of  the  territory  involved,  and  extends  over  scarcely  more 
than  two  days  time,  during  which  some  eight  hundred  whites 
were  foully  murdered,  and  a  large  number  of  the  fairest 
women  and  girls  of  the  land,  bereft  of  their  kindred  and  pro- 
tectors, were  dragged  into  a  loathsome  captivity  by  savages 
whose  crimes  would  make  murder  by  contrast  a  mercy. 
SOME   OF   THE   RESULTS  ACHIEVED, 

Of  the  prompt  action  of  the  authorities  in  taking  measures 
for  the  protection  of  the  frontier,  and  the  heroic  conduct  of 
those  engaged  therein,  I  will  not  here  write.  The  military 
history  of  the  Sioux  war  is  now  being  written  by  participants. 
Some  of  the  results  achieved  were,  the  release  of  all  the  white 
captives,  about  the  first  of  October,  1862,  to  the  number  of 
about  one  hundred,  and  half-breeds  to  the  number  of  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty,  at  Camp  Release.  Our  forces  also  had 
about  two  thousand  Indian  prisoners.  A  military  commission 
recommended  some  three  hundred  of  them  for  capital  punish- 
ment, but  President  Lincoln  allowed  only  thirty-eight  to  be 
hung. 

GENERAL  SIBLEY'S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  CAPTIVES  AT  CAMP  RELEASE. 

"  I  entered  with  my  officers  to  the  center  of  the  circle  formed 
"  by  the  numerous  lodges,  and  seeing  the  old  savage  whom  I 
"  knew  personally  as  the  individual  with  stentorian  lungs,  who 
"  promulgated  the  orders  of  the  chiefs  and  head  men  to  the 


376  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

"  multitude,  I  beckoned  him  to  me  and,  in  a  peremptory  tone, 
"  ordered  him  to  go  through  the  camp  and  notify  the  tenants 
"  that  I  demanded  all  the  female  captives  to  be  brought  to  me 
"  instanter.  And  now  was  presented  a  scene  which  no  one  who 
"  witnessed  it  can  ever  forget.  From  the  lodges  there  issued 
"more  than  one  hundred  comely  young  girls  and  women,  most 
"  of  whom  were  so  scantily  clad  as  scarcely  to  conceal  their 
"  nakedness.  On  the  persons  of  some  hung  only  a  single  gar- 
"  ment,  whi4e  pitying  half-breeds  and  Indian  women  had  pro- 
"  vided  others  with  scraps  of  clothing  from  their  own  little 
"wardrobes,  answering,  indeed,  a  mere  temporary  purpose. 
"  But  a  worse  accoutered  or  more  distressed  group  of  civilized 
"  beings  imagination  would  fail  to  picture.  Some  seemed 
"  stolid,  as  if  their  minds  had  been  strained  to  madness  and 
"  reaction  had  brought  vacant  gloom,  indifference,  and  despair. 
"  They  gazed  with  a  sad  stare.  Others  acted  differently.  The 
"  great  body  of  the  poor  creatures  rushed  wildly  to  the  spot 
"where  I  was  standing  with  my  brave  officers,  pressing  as 
"  close  to  us  as  possible,  grasping  our  hands  and  clinging  to 
"  our  limbs,  as  if  fearful  that  the  red  devils  might  yet  reclaim 
"  their  victims.  I  did  all  I  could  to  reassure  them,  by  telling 
"  them  they  were  now  to  be  released  from  their  horrible  suffer- 
"  ings,  and  freed  from  their  bondage.  Many  were  hysterical, 
"  bordering  on  convidsions,  laughter  and  tears  commingling, 
"  incredulous  that  they  were  in  the  hands  of  their  preservers. 
"A  few  of  the  more  attractive  had  been  offered  the  alternative 
"  of  becoming  the  temporary  wives  of  select  warriors  and  so, 
"  helpless  and  powerless,  yet  escaping  the  promiscuous  atten- 
"  tions  of  a  horde  of  savages  bent  on  brutal  insult  revolting  to 
"  conceive,  and  impossible  to  be  described.  The  majority  of 
"  these  outraged  girls  and  yoimg  women  were  of  a  superior 
"  class.  Some  were  school  teachers  who,  accompanied  by  their 
"  girl  pupils,  had  gone  to  pass  their  summer  vacation  with  rel- 
"  atives  or  friends  in  the  border  counties  of  the  state.  The 
"  settlers,  both  native  and  foreign  were,  for  the  most  part, 
"  respectable,  prosperous,  and  educated  citizens  whose  wives 
"  and  daughters  had  been  afforded  the  privileges  of  a  good 
"  common  school  education.  Such  were  the  delicate  young 
"girls  and  women  who  had  been  subjected  for  weeks  to  the 
"  inhuman  embraces  of  hundreds  of  filthy  savages,  utterly 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  377 

"  devoid  of  all  compassion  for  the  sufferers.  Escorting  the 
"  captives  to  the  outside  of  the  camp,  they  were  placed  under 
"  the  protection  of  the  troops  and  taken  to  our  own  encamp- 
"ment,  where  I  had  ordered  tents  to  be  pitched  for  their 
"  accommodation.  Officers  and  men,  affected  even  to  tears  by 
"  the  scene,  denuded  themselves  of  their  entire  underclothing, 
"  blankets,  coats,  and  whatever  they  could  give.,  or  could  be 
"  converted  into  raiment  for  these  heart-broken  and  abused 
"  victims  of  savage  lust  and  rage.  The  only  white  man  found 
"  alive  when  we  reached  the  Indian  encampment  was  George 
"  H.  Spencer,  who  was  saved  from  death  by  the  heroic  devo- 
"  tion  of  his  Indian  comrade,  but  yet  badly  wounded.  He 
"  said  to  me,  '  It  is  God's  mercy,  that  you  did  not  march  here 
"  on  the  night  after  the  battle.  A  plan  was  formed,  had  you 
"  done  so,  to  murder  the  captives,  then  scatter  to  the  prairies,' 
"  thus  verifying  my  prediction  of  the  course  they  would  pur- 
"  sue.  I  bless  God  for  the  wisdom  he  gave  me,  and  whereby, 
"  with  the  aid  of  my  brave  men,  in  spite  of  all  slander  and 
"  abuse,  I  was  enabled  to  win  a  victory  so  decisive,  and  redeem 
"  from  their  thraldom  those  unfortunate  sufferers  who  were  a 
*'  burden  on  my  heart  from  the  first  moment  of  my  campaign." 

Some  two  thousand  Indians  were  taken  from  the  state 
and  removed  far  from  the  borders  of  Minnesota.  The  expe- 
dition of  18G3  against  the  scattered  bands  of  Sioux  that  still 
remained  on  the  borders  of  the  state,  or  were  still  further 
removed  into  Dakota,  gave  some  assurance  of  protection  and 
security  against  further  disturbance  from  the  Sioux. 

On  the  IGth  of  February,  18G3,  the  treaties  before  that 
time  existing  between  the  United  States  and  these  annuity 
Indians  were  aV)rogated  and  annulled,  and  all  lands  and  rights 
of  occupancy  within  the  State  of  Minnesota,  and  all  annuities 
and  claims  then  existing  in  favor  of  said  Indians,  were 
declared  forfeited  to  the  United  States. 

DEATH   OF   LITTLE   CIlOW — KILLED   BY   MR.    LAMPSON. 

On  Friday  evening,  July  3,  1863,  Mr.  Lampson  and  his  son 
Chauncey,  while  traveling  along  the  road,  about  six  miles 
north  of  Hutchinson,  discovered  two  Indians  in  a  prairie 
opening  in  the  woods,  interspersed  with  chimps  of  bushes  and 
vines  and  a  few  scattered  poplars,  picking  berries.  These 
two  Indians  were  Little  Crow  and  his  son  Wowinapa. 


378  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

STATEMENT    BY    THE    SON    OF    LITTLE    CROW. 

"  I  am  the  son  of  Little  Crow.  My  name  is  Wowinapa.  I 
am  sixteen  years  old.  My  father  had  two  wives  before  he 
took  my  mother  ;  the  first  one  had  one  son  ;  the  second  one 
son  and  daughter  ;  the  thii-d  wife  was  my  mother.  After 
taking  my  mother  he  put  away  the  first  two.  He  had  seven 
children  by  my  mother — six  are  dead  ;  I  am  the  only  one 
living  now.  The  fourth  wife  had  four  children  bom  ;  do  not 
know  whether  any  died  or  not ;  two  were  boys  and  two  were 
girls.  The  fifth  wife  had  five  children — three  of  them  are 
dead,  and  two  are  living.  The  sixth  wife  had  three  children  ^ 
all  of  them  are  dead  ;  the  oldest  was  a  boy,  the  other  two 
were  girls.     The  last  four  wives  were  sisters. 

Father  went  to  St.  Joseph  last  spring.  When  we  were 
coming  back  he  said  he  could  not  fight  the  white  men,  but 
would  go  below  and  steal  horses  from  them,  and  give  them  to 
his  children,  so  that  they  could  be  comfortable,  and  then  he 
would  go  away  off. 

Father  also  told  me  that  he  was  getting  old,  and  wanted  me 
to  go  with  him  to  carry  his  bundles.  He  left  his  wives  and 
his  other  children  behind.  There  were  sixteen  men  and  one 
squaw  in  the  party  that  went  below  with  us.  We  had  no 
horses,  but  walked  all  the  way  down  to  the  settlements. 
Father  and  I  were  picking  red-berries,  near  Scattered  Lake, 
at  the  time  he  was  shot.  It  was  near  night.  He  was  hit  the 
first  time  in  the  side,  just  above  the  hip.  His  gun  and  mine 
were  lying  on  the  ground.  He  took  up  my  gun  and  fired  it 
first,  and  then  fired  his  own.  He  was  shot  the  second  time 
when  he  was  firing  his  own  gun.  The  ball  struck  the  stock 
of  his  gun,  and  then  hit  him  in  the  side,  near  the  shoulder. 
This  was  the  shot  that  killed  him.  He  told  me  that  he  was 
killed,  and  asked  me  for  water,  which  I  gave  him.  He  died 
immediately  after.  When  I  heard  the  first  shot  fired  I  laid 
down,  and  the  man  did  not  see  me  before  father  was  killed. 

A  short  time  before  father  was  killed  an  Indian  named 
Hiuka,  who  married  the  daughter  of  my  father's  second  wife, 
came  to  him.  He  had  a  horse  with  him  -also  a  gray-colored 
coat  that  he  had  taken  from  a  man  that  he  had  killed  to  the 
north  ot  where  father  was  killed.  He  gave  the  coat  to  father, 
telling  him  he  might  need  it  when  it  rained,  as  he  had  no 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  379 

coat  with  liini.  Hiuka  said  he  had  a  horse  now,  and  was 
going  back  to  the  Indian  country. 

The  Indians  that  went  down  with  us  separated.  Eight  of 
them  and  the  squaw  went  north  ;  the  other  eight  went  further 
down.  I  have  not  scon  any  of  them  since.  After  father  was 
killed  I  took  both  guns  and  the  ammunition  and  started  to  go 
to  Devil's  Lake,  where  I  expected  to  find  some  of  my  friends. 
When  I  got  to  Beaver  creek  I  saw  the  tracks  of  two  Indians, 
and  at  Standing  Buffalo's  village  I  saw  where  the  eight  Indians 
that  had  gone  north  had  crossed. 

I  carried  both  guns  as  far  as  the  Sheyenne  river,  where  I 
saw  two  men.  I  asw  scared,  and  threw  my  gun  and  the 
ammunition  down.  After  that  I  traveled  only  in  the  night ; 
and  as  I  had  no  ammunition  to  kill  anything  to  eat,  I  had  not 
strength  enough  to  travel  fas*.  I  went  on  until  I  arrived  near 
Devil's  Lake,  when  I  staid  in  one  place  three  days,  being  so 
weak  and  hungry  that  I  could  go  no  further.  I  had  picked  up 
a  cartridge  near  Big  Stone  Lake,  which  I  still  had  with  me,  and 
loaded  father's  gun  with  it,  cutting  the  ball  into  slugs.  With 
this  charge  I  shot  a  wolf,  ate  some  of  it,  which  gave  me  strength 
to  travel,  and  went  on  up  the  lake  until  the  day  I  was  captured, 
which  was  twenty-six  days  from  theday  my  father  was  killed." 
The  removal  of  the  Indians  from  the  borders  of  Minnesota, 
and  the  opening  up  for  settlement  of  over  a  million  of  acres 
of  superior  land,  was  a  prospective  benefit  to  the  state  of 
immense  value,  both  in  its  domestic  quiet  and  its  rapid 
advancement  in  material  wealth. 

LETTER     FROM     GEN.    H.    H.   SIBLEY,  DATED    SEPT.     24tH,    1889. 

Col.  J.  H.  Stevens — My  dear  Sir  :  I  would  cheerfully  com- 
ply with  your  request,  to  furnish  you  with  an  account  of  the 
release  of  the  captives,  and  incidents  connected  therewith,  over 
my  own  signature,  but  unfortunately  I  cannot,  after  the  lapse 
of  so  many  years,  trust  my  memory  to  recall  the  details  of  that 
most  important  and  interesting  episode  in  our  history.  If  I 
can  find  the  article  I  furnished  years  ago  to  some  magazine  or 
newspaper,  and  to  which  you  refer,  I  will  send  it  to  you  with- 
out delay.  It  would  give  me  much  pleasure  to  contribute  to 
the  success  of  your  enterprise.  With  loving  regards  to  Mrs. 
Stevens,  believe  me  to  be  your  sincere  friend,  Henry  H.  Sibley. 


CHAPTEK  XLIX. 

The  autumn  of  1862  was  dreary  to  citizens  of  Minneapolis 
and  St.  Anthony.  The  Indian  war  had  brought  sorrow  to 
many  households  in  the  two  cities.  Currency  was  so  scarce 
that  the  town  of  Minneapolis  issued  scrip  redeemable  in  bank 
notes  in  sums  not  less  than  five  dollars.  This  script  was 
signed  by  S.  H.  Mattison,  president,  and  Geo.  A.  Savory, 
secretary.  It  was  endorsed  by  R.  J.  Mendenhall,  treasurer, 
which  gave  it  a  good  standing  in  the  community.  Messrs. 
J.  E.  and  D.  C.  Bell,  Benj.  F.  Bull,  and  other  merchants, 
exchanged  their  goods  for  the  script.  Most  of  the  teams  in 
the  two  cities  were  pressed  into  the  service  of  the  state  for  the 
Indian  war. 

Sidney  Smith,  a  resident  of  Minneapolis  since  1854,  and 
one  of  the  most  reliable,  respected  citizens,  became  interested 
in  the  freighting  business,  but  there  was  little  work  in  that 
line  this  fall  for  want  of  teams. 

The  fall  election  passed  off  very  quietly.  John  A.  Arm- 
strong was  elected  sheriff,  Harlow  A.  Gale,  auditor  ;  Geo.  W. 
Chowan,  register  of  deeds  ;  JohnB.  Gilfillan,  county  attorney; 
A.  Blakeman,  county  commissioner  ;  and  F.  W.  Cook,  sur- 
veyor ;  A,  C.  Austin  and  R.  B.  McGrath,  members  of  the 
house.  R.  J.  Baldwin,  senator,  held  his  office  for  two  years, 
as  did  David  Heaton,  in  St.  Anthony. 

Bev.  D.  Cobb  became  pastor  of  the  Methodist  church  in 
Minneapolis,  this  fall. 

Anson  Northrup  and  Simon  P.  Snyder  raised  a  company 
of  men  to  defend  the  unprotected  settlers  on  the  frontier 
from  the  depredations  of  the  Indians  ;  while  Eugene  M. 
Wilson  had  no  difficulty  in  organizing  a  company  of  mounted 


OF   MINNESOTA    AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  381 

rangers.  October  15th,  the  company  was  mustered  into  the 
service  with  Mr.  AVilson,  captain  ;  E.  A.  Goodell,  first  lieu- 
tenant ;  and  James  M.  Paine,  second  lieutenant. 

Hon.  H.  E.  Mann,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Minneapolis, 
received  the  appointment  of  clerk  of  U.  S.  court  at   8t.  Paul. 

David  C.  Bell  was  married  this  fall  to  Miss  Lina  Conklin 
at  her  family  home  in  Richburg,  Alleghany  county.  New 
York.  The  couple  came  directly  to  Minneapolis  and  have 
resided  here  <'ver  since. 

W.  AV.  McNair  of  Minneapolis  was  married  to  Miss  Wilson, 
daughter  of  Edgar  Wilson  of  Virginia. 

Harrison's  block,  the  most  commodious  house  up  to  this 
time  in  Minneapolis,  was  completed  in  October  of  this  year. 

The  State  Bank  of  Minnesota,  with  R.  J.  Mendenhall  as  its 
president,  was  organized  in  November. 

The  county  commissioners  followed  the  example  of  the 
town  board  and  issued  scrip  for  a  circulating  medium. 

As  winter  approached  it  became  necessary  to  renew  efforts 
in  behalf  of  wounded  and  sick  soldiers.  The  soldiers'  aid 
society  was  reorganized  with  Mrs.  D.  Morrison,  president  ; 
Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Chowan  and  Mrs.  George  Godley,  vice-presi- 
dents ;  Miss  Abby  Harmon,  treasurer  ;  Mrs.  E.  Harmon, 
secretary  ;  with  Miss  Nellie  Elliot,  Mrs.  Case,  and  Mrs.  H.  O. 
Hamlin,  managers.  This  organization,  like  the  previous  one, 
accomplished  a  good  work  in  behalf  of  the  soldiers. 

November  19th  Thos.  S.  King,  recently  from  New  York, 
assumed  editorial  control  of  the  Atlas.  Mr.  King  wielded  an 
able  pen,  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  ablest  newspaper 
men  in  the  city. 

Late  in  November  D.  Morrison  &  Co.  opened  a  large  store 
in  Minneapolis.  Messrs.  Mat.  Nothaker  and  Henry  Oswald 
also  successfully  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business. 

All  agricultural  products  ruled  low  in  prices  this  fall  ; 
wheat  was  only  worth  sixty  cents  per  bushel. 

Rev.  C.  C.  Salter  was  called  to  the  pastorship  of  the  Con- 
gregational church,  which  position  he  occupied  many  years- 
He  was  one  of  the  most  popular  pastors  of  the  city. 

The  Hennepin  county  medical  society  was  organized  in 
December.  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames  was  elected  president,  Dr.  R.  H. 
Ward,  secretary ;  and  Dr.  A.  E.  Johnson,  librarian. 


PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

Dr.  J.  J.  Linn  became  a  resident  of  Minneapolis  in  1857,  and 
aided  in  the  organization  of  tlie  Hennepin  County  Medical 
Society  that  year.  He  was  influenced  in  coming  to  Minne- 
apolis by  his  nephew,  Hon.  E.  M.  Wilson.  He  has  been  and 
is  a  successful  physician. 

YOUNG  MEN  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  PRESS. 

The  Press  of  those  early  times  sent  out  several  young  men 
from  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  who  have  become  distinguished. 
Among  them  was  Hon.  Erastus  Timothy  Cressey.  He  was 
the  first  printer's  devil  in  the  old  St.  Anthony  Express  office, 
soon  after  that  paper  made  its  first  appearance.  Daniel  L. 
Paine  is  another  man  who  was  in  the  Express  office  in  1851, 
who  has  made  his  mark  in  the  world.  Joseph  A.  Wheelock, 
the  veteran  editor-in-chief  of  the  Pioneer  Press,  was  never 
connected  with  the  newspapers  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony, 
but  he  was  a  pioneer  resident  of  the  county  as  early  as  the 
fall  of  1850.  From  several  letters  written  to  me  in  those 
early  days  it  is  easily  seen  that  he  wielded  a  powerful  pen. 
At  a  later  period  Colonel  Levine  P.  Plummer,  Willard  S. 
Whitemore,  Colonel  Charles  W.  Johnson,  and  Fred.  L.  Smith 
graduated  from  the  printing  offices  in  either  St.  Anthony  or 
Minneapolis.  They  attained  high  places  in  the  estimation  of 
the  community.  Colonel  Plummer  died  several  years  since. 
Colonel  Johnson  is  Secretary  of  the  United  States  Senate. 
C.  H.  Slocum  is  another  worthy  of  mention  in  this  connection. 
These  facts  are  additional  evidence  that  the  composing-room 
of  a  printing-office  turns  out  many  of  the  best  men  of  the 
country. 

THE   COUNTRY   WEST   OF   MINNEAPOLIS. 

In  the  fall  of  1856  I  resided  with  my  family  on  my  farm  at 
Glencoe,  where  I  remained  for  several  years,  and  was  inter- 
ested in  the  settlement  of  the  country  west  of  Minneapolis. 
After  my  farm  in  Minneapolis  had  been  laid  off  into  lots,  and 
covered  with  houses,  I  found  if  I  was  to  "  follow  the  plow"  it 
would  be  necessary  to  select  a  new  home.  In  doing  so  I 
experienced  the  pleasing  senation  of  pioneer  life  over  again. 
Carver,  the  intermediate  county  between  Hennepin  and  Mc- 
Leod  counties,  was  being  rapidly  settled  by  a  thrifty  people, 
many  of  them  from  Germany.  Several  villages  were  spring- 
ing up  along  the  line  of  the  road  from  Minneapolis  to  Glencoe. 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  383 

The  first  settlers  in  Chaska  were  Judge  Jacob  Ebinger,  T.  D. 
Smith,  Fred  Greiner,  Fred  DuToit,  John  Lee,  E.  Ellsworth, 
G.  Krayenbuhl,  and  Thomas  B.  Hunt.  Carver  was  the  river 
depot  for  Glencoe.  Its  first  settlers  were  Axel  Jorgenson  and 
John  Goodenough,  in  1852.  In  February,  1854,  Levi  H. 
Griffin  and  associates  purchased  Jorgenson's  claim  and  laid 
out  the  town.  Mr.  Griffin  was  a  printer,  and  previous  to  his 
location  in  Carver  had  been  to  California.  He  erected  a  large 
hotel,  and  was  energetic  in  building  up  the  town.  He  was 
followed  by  Stephen  Holmes,  Anton  Knoblaugh,  Walton  Bros., 
John  O.  Brunius,  Charles  Johnson,  A.  G.  Anderson,  Herman 
Muehlberg,  Enoch  Holmes,  Charles  Basler,  J.  S.  Letford,  J. 
W.  Hartwell,  C.  A.  Blooraquist,  W.  A.  Griffin,  J.  A.  Sargent, 
Dr.  E.  Bray,  and  other  enterprising  citizens. 

Young  America,  midway  between  Carver  and  Glencoe,  was 
a  beautiful  village  laid  out  in  the  "  deep  green  woods",  by 
Dr.  R.  M.  Kennedy  and  James  Slocum,  worthy  pioneers.  Dr. 
Kennedy  died  in  18(52.  His  widow  became  the  wife  of  Enoch 
Holmes,  then  a  pioneer  merchant  of  Carver,  now  a  citizen  of 
Minneapolis. 

The  first  settlers  of  Glencoe,  Hutchinson,  and  McLeod 
county  generally,  were  pioneers  of  an  excellent  race  of  men. 
The  names  of  W.  S.  Chapman,  John  V.  McKean,  Henry 
Little,  L.  G.  Simons,  A.  J.  Snyder,  C.  L.  Snyder,  B.  F.  Buck, 
James  Phillips,  John  Smith,  Lawrence  Gillick,  Henry  Elliott, 
Prentice  Chubb,  John  Folsom,  G.  K.  Gilbert,  A.  H.  Reed, 
Isaac  W.  Cummings,  James  B.  and  Thomas  McClary,  Brad- 
bury Richardson,  E.  W.  Richardson,  F.  B.  Dean,  A.  H. 
Rouse,  George  Harris,  J.  R.  Louden,  F.  W.  Hanscomb,  the 
Langley  Bros.,  Peter  Durfee,  C.  Chandler,  the  McDougal 
Bros.,  W.  W.  and  J.  H.  Getchell,  and  others  around  Glencoe  ; 
the  Hutchinsons,  R.  E.  Grimshaw,  Wm.  White,  Lewis  Har- 
rington, B.  E.  Messer,  AY.  W.  Pendergast,  J.  H.  Chubb,  the 
Chesley  Bros.,  the  Pollock  Bros.,  with  others  at  Hutchinson 
and  Lake  Addie  ;  J.  S.  ^^oble,  A.  H.  and  C.  Jennison,  Daniel 
Nobles,  A.  S.  Nobles,  L.  Guard,  in  the  interior  of  the  county, 
and  E.  Lambert,  John  and  H.  C.  McClelland  farther  north, 
with  other  equally  good  men  scattered  throughout  the  county, 
was  a  sure  guarantee  that  it  was  destined  to  be  one  of  the 
best  counties  in  the  state. 


383|  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 

REPRESENTATIVE  MEN  AT  THE  FALLS  OF  ST.  ANTHONY. 

Among  the  most  persistent  men  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony 
during  the  hard  times  of  the  late  fifties  and  early  sixties  were 
those  engaged  in  an  effort  to  make  Minneapolis  and  St.  Anthony 
the  head  of  navigation.  It  is  true  every  man,  woman  and  child 
at  the  Falls  fully  believed  in  the  wondrous  future  of  the  Twin 
Cities,  and  their  faith  therein  was  never  clouded  by  a  doubt ; 
but  Captain  John  Martin,  Captain  John  C.  Reno,  Captain 
Edward  Murphy,  and  Captain  J.  B.  Gilbert,  and  some  others, 
thought  that  steamboats  would  greatly  assist  in  the  develop- 
ment of  their  greatness.  These  gentlemen  backed  their  belief 
by  investing  heavily  in  steamboats.  Captain  Martin  seldom 
failed  in  any  of  his  business  pursuits.  Excellent  judgment 
with  a  clear  head  were  his  chief  characteristics,  and  with 
promptness  and  integrity  he  has  led  a  successful  life. 

Another  gentleman  who  came  to  St.  Anthony  during  the 
financial  crisis,  in  1859,  is  Henry  F.  Brown.  During  the  so- 
called  hard  times  he  never  for  a  moment  became  discouraged. 
His  life  is  an  illustration  of  the  results  of  industry,  thrift  and 
energy.  Following  in  the  path  pursued  by  Col.  W.  S.  King, 
Mr.  Brown  earnestly  engaged  in  breeding  rich  strains  of 
thoroughbred  stock,  and  like  Col.  King  became  a  public  bene- 
factor to  the  whole  northwest  by  the  introduction  of  a  superior 
quality  of  stock  among  the  farmers. 

Still  another  who  came  to  Minneapolis  during  the  hard 
times  of  the  late  fifties  whose  life  has  been  a  marked  success 
financially  and  in  his  profession  is  Levi  M.  Stewart.  By 
strict  attention  to  the  profession  of  law  and  by  wise  investment 
he  has  attained  more  than  a  competency,  a  portion  of  which 
he  distributes  in  unostentatious  charity. 

No  one  has  been  more  loyal  to  the  interests  of  Minneapolis 
than  Washington  Pierce.  He  came  here  in  a  very  early  day, 
and  has  for  many  years  been  intrusted  with  different  offices, 
which  he  has  filled  with  credit. 

John  Ludlum,  a  brother-in-law  of  N.  E.  Stoddard,  a  pioneer 
of  the  early  fifties,  always  commanded  the  respect  of  the 
whole  community.  His  home  is  near  where  he  first  settled 
when  he  came  to  the  territory.  It  is  seldom  even  in  this  com- 
paratively new  country  that  the  first  homesteads  remain  in 
the  same  family  more  than  one  generation,  in  many  instances 


MINNESOTA  AND  ITS  PEOPLE.  383^ 

only  a  few  years.  I  will  give  the  names  of  a  few  of  the  many 
early  and  valuable  pioneers  in  this  section  whose  homesteads 
are  in  the  hands  of  strangers. 

REMOVED   FROM   THEIR   OLD   HOMESTEADS, 

Luther  Patch  came  to  St.  Anthony  in  1847.  His  family 
consisted  of  four  boys  and  two  girls.  The  former  are  Edw'd, 
Wallace,  Lewis,  and  Gibson  S.  Patch  ;  the  latter  Mrs.  R.  P. 
Russell  and  Mrs.  J.  M.  Marshall.  Mrs.  Russell  is  the  only 
representative  of  the  family  left. 

The  late  Phineas  B.  Newton  settled  on  his  farm  in  Maple 
Grove  township  in  October,  1855.  He  and  his  family  were 
unusually  respected.  His  boys,  Wm.  I.,  Frank  H.,  Thos.  R., 
and  I.  C.  Newton,  were  of  much  promise.  Their  home  was  a 
pleasant  one,  but  the  old  farm  is  in  the  hands  of  strangers. 

Isaac  Hankinson  settled  in  Helen,  McLeod  county,  in  1856. 
He  was  an  industrious,  respected  citizen,  and  had  a  house  full 
of  children  who  were  esteemed  by  the  whole  community.  A 
good  sized  homestead  made  them  happy  and  prosperous. 
The  boys,  Thomas,  James,  Joseph,  and  John,  aided  their 
father  in  raising  large  crops  on  the  farm.  The  girls  married 
and  settled  in  the  neighborhood.  The  old  homestead  has 
passed  out  of  the  hands  of  the  family — not  a  representative 
left  on  it. 

In  the  very  early  days  at  the  Falls  no  one  wielded  greater 
influence  than  Pierre  Bottineau.  He  has  moved  away — has 
only  one  representative,  the  well-known  lawyer  John  B. 
Bottineau. 

Not  a  descendant  of  John  Jackins,  one  of  our  first  county 
commissioners,  is  left.  Mr.  Jackins  and  family  are  west  of 
the  Rocky  mountains.  Only  a  few  remain  of  the  descendants 
of  our  second  county  commissioner,  Washington  Getchell, 
who  went  to  Oregon  long  ago.  Levi  Longfellow,  a  respected 
citizen,  and  a  successful  business  man,  is  a  grandson  of  Mr. 
Getchell. 

Ral}jh  T.  Gray,  the  first  actual  resident  barber  in  St. 
Anthony,  still  resides  in  Minneapolis,  and  is  held  in  high 
esteem  by  the  people. 

John  Dudley  has  always  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
but  his  extensive  mills  were  at  the  junction  of  the  St.  Croix 
with  the  Mississippi. 


384  PERSONAL  KECOLLECTIONS. 

CONCLUSION. 

With  the  close  of  1862  this  record  of  pioneer  events  ends.  In 
a  feeble  M^ay,  inadequate  to  the  occasion,  I  have  performed  the 
duty  I  have  felt  that  I  owed  to  the  Pioneers  of  Minnesota,  and 
especially  to  Minneapolis,  by  willing  testimony  as  to  their  ster- 
ling worth  and  generous  deeds.  They  worked  for  the  good  of 
those  who  were  to  follow  in  their  footsteps,  inherit  this  glorious 
land,  and  possess  the  institutions  founded  in  intelligence,  and 
fostered  with  care.  With  prophetic  eye  they  viewed  with  pride 
the  blessings  that  would  be  showered  upon  generations  that 
were  to  follow.  Only  a  few  of  them  were  permitted  to  reap 
great  personal  and  material  benefit  from  the  ripening  harvest 
that  follows  the  seeds  they  planted  ;  and  comparatively  few  of 
them  remain  to  clearly  see,  and  fully  comprehend,  what  has 
been  accomplished,  and  realize  the  glories  that  will  indefinitely 
increase  after  their  eyee  are  closed  in  eternal  sleep. 

While  to  a  limited  extent  this  record  is  historical,  it  lays  no 
claim  to  the  dignity  of  history.  It  would  be  presumptuous  in 
me  to  assume  the  importance  of  historian.  That  I  am  partial 
to  the  old  settlers,  is  as  natural  as  the  love  of  a  parent  for  his 
children,  or  the  afPection  of  brothers  and  sisters.  I  simply  offer 
a  tribute  of  love  and  respect  to  my  old  associates,  which  I  know 
they  richly  merit.  The  record  is  by  no  means  complete.  In 
such  a  multitude  of  events,  many  as  worthy  or  more  worthy, 
with  the  most  careful  attention,  in  a  work  of  such  limited  scope, 
must  pass  unrecorded. 

With  regretful  eye,  sad  heart,  and  steps  willing  only  as  they 
performed  a  duty,  I  have  aided  in  placing  a  large  number  of 
whom  I  have  written,  in  the  silent  tomb.  The  open  grave  iS 
familiar  to  me,  and  a  frequently- recurring  sight.  But  the 
limit  will  soon  be  reached.  May  fresh  eyes,  joyous  footsteps, 
and  loving  hearts,  ever  inherit  this  land.  I  dedicate  the  record 
contained  in  this  book  to  those  who  know  me  well,  and  I  feel 
sure  they  will  be  lenient  to  its  faults  if  they  experience  the 
pleasure  in  reading  that  I  have  felt  in  writing  it.  It  is  also 
hoped  that  more  recent  dwellers  in  this  fair  land,  if  they  peruse 
these  pages,  will  find  some  interest  in  comparing  the  present 
with  the  past.  And  may  some  abler  pen  trace  their  good  deeds, 
with  as  good  intentions,  as  I  have  recorded  those  of  their 
immediate  predecessors. 


CHAPTEK  L. 

THE   LIFE   OF   A   MINNESOTA   MISSIONARY    HALF  A  CENTURY  AGO. 

Elsewhere  I  have  written  of  Eev.  Gideon  H.  Pond,  one  of 
the  earliest  missionaries  to  the  Dakotas  in  Minnesota,  and  of 
his  appointments  to  preach  at  my  little  house  under  the  bluff, 
just  above  the  Falls.  And  now,  by  the  courtesy  of  his  nephew, 
S.  W.  Pond,  jr.,  of  Minneapolis,  I  am  enabled  to  present  a 
glimpse  of  his  life  here  at  an  earlier  day,  even  half  a  century 
ago.  The  views  are  given  by  himself  in  extracts  from  his 
journal,  commencing  in  1837.  To  me  it  is  the  life  of  a  noble, 
self-sacrificing  man,  devoted  to  an  almost  hopeless  mission  of 
mercy  to  the  heathen,  but  not  less  interestiftg  on  that  account. 
EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  PRIVATE  JOURNAL  OF  REV.  GIDEON  H.  POND. 

Lac-qui-parle,  June  30,  1837. — To-day  I  enter  upon  my 
twenty-eighth  year,  and  for  my  future  benefit  commit  to  writ- 
ing my  determination  to  endeavor  to  deny  myself  ungodliness 
and  follow  after  peace,  seeking  to  be  meek  and  lowly  in  mind 
and  to  exhibit  an  humble,  unassuming  character,  striving  at 
all  times  to  look  at  myself  in  the  glass  of  truth,  as  a  rebel  by 
nature  against  the  government  of  the  blessed  God,  and  in 
myself  entirely  destitute  of  worth,  but  yet  a  child  of  God 
through  the  grace  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  not  my  own  and  as  hav- 
ing nothing  which  I  can  call  my  own  ;  that  I  will  endeavor  to 
improve  my  time  diligently,  remembering  that  it  is  short  and 
precious,  and  that  I  can  do  nothing  without  exertions,  and  that 
I  will  most  assuredly  be  doing  wrong  unless  I  make  exertions 
to  do  right ;  that  I  will  endeavor  to  keep  an  account  of  the 
manner  in  which  I  spend  each  day,  and  strive  to  improve,  to- 
morrow, in  that  wherein  I  fail  to-day. 

As  all  before  me  is  dark,  so  that  I  can  plan  nothing  for  the 


386  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

future,  I  will  endeavor  to  live  by  faitli  and  cast  all  my  care 
on  God  and  seek  His  special  guidance  continually,  through 
Jesus  Christ :  and 

O  may  the  blessed  God,  by  His  spirit  through  Jesus  Christ, 
and  for  the  sake  of  His  own  glory  among  these  Indians,  help 
a  poor,  weak  and  faithless  sinner  to  he  faithful  through  the 
year  and  till  death.     Amen. 

July  3.— Spent  from  eleven  until  half-past  one  looking 
over  with  Wamdiokie  some  simple  translations  I  made  Satur- 
day. [The  following  days  are  filled  with  labors  in  fitting  up 
the  house,  and  improving  every  opportunity  for  learning  the 
Indian  language,  and  for  conversing  with  the  Indians  on 
religious  subjects.  ] 

Friday,  7th— Have  felt  disposed  to  be  a  little  impatient  with 
an  Indian  to-day— Seca-duta.  I  am  in  want  of  a  disposition 
to  compassionate  them  as  I  should.  May  Christ  sit  in  my 
heart  as  a  refiner  and  purifier  of  silver  until  his  own  image 
shines  bright  in  me. 

Thursday,  18th.— I  ought  to  feel  very  thankful  that  God 
has  given  me  the  opportunity  to  collect  two  or  three  words 
to-day.  I  feel  that  my  respongibilities  increase  with  every 
word  which  I  lea  A,  or  which  I  might  learn  and  do  not.  Will 
the  Lord  forgive  me  that  I  have  been  so  negligent,  and  sanc- 
tify my  heart  through  the  truth  by  giving  me  a  lively  faith 
through  Jesus  Christ  by  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  that 
I  may  love  and  serve  Him  only,  and  be  faithful  unto  death. 

Friday,  14th. — Preparing  boards  for  floor.  Though  it  is, 
in  itself,  most  disagreeable,  trying  and  tedious,  yet  I  feel 
grateful  because  I  have  been  favored  with  the  company  of 
Indians  ;  and  though  I  have  been  engaged  in  manual  labor, 
have,  I  hope,  been  able  to  learn  some. 

Monday,  17tli. — Laying  floor  in  chamber  this  afternoon.  I 
commenced  an  attempt  to  translate  the  31st  Psalm  into  Dakota. 

Monday,  31st. — This  morning  wrote  a  letter  to  brother 
Samuel,  and  went  to  Mr.  E.'s  with  it.  Have  spent  most  of  the 
day  wdth  the  Indians.  Had  a  long  interview  with  AA'amdiokie, 
and  tried  to  tell  him  why  Christ  died,  and  why  it  is  necessary 
that  men  should  be  made  new,  in  the  temper  of  the  mind,  the 
danger  of  self-deception,  the  wickedness  of  forsaking  God,  and 
some   of  his   attributes.     A  miserable  "guide  of  the  blind," 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    I'Kol'I.K.  387 

because  my  own  eyos  are  so  near  shut.  Lord  that  my  eyes 
may  be  opened,  aiul  his  too,  that  we  ma}-  be  renewed  in  the 
spirit  of  our  minds. 

Wednesday,  2d. — Taoyateduta  [Little  Crow]  came  here  this 
afternoon  to  read.  I  have  some  hope  that  he  will  apply  him- 
self ;  if  so,  I  shall  endeavor  to  assist  him  while  he  stays. 

Saturday,  5th.  I  have  for  two  or  three  days  felt  more  than 
commonly  disposed  to  weep  on  behalf  of  the  Indians,  and 
especially  AVamdiokie.  They  are  blind  and  dead.  Lord  that 
their  eyes  may  be  opened. 

Friday,  11th.  The  Indians  came  to  dance  to  us  to-day,  and 
we  considered  it  to  be  our  duty  to  otfend  them  grievously  by 
disregarding  them.     The  house,  however,  shook  to  their  praise. 

Monday,  14th. ^To-day  we  have  had  a  new  exhibiti<m  of 
the  gratitude  of  these  degraded  heathen  by  a  letter  from  the 
principal  chief  at  this  village,  written  by  AVamdiokie,  reproach- 
ing us,  not  in  anger,  but  with  savage  mildness,  because  we 
teach  that  we  shoidd  love  others  as  ourselves,  and  do  not 
share  with  them  what  we  ourselves  possess.  May  I  have 
grace  to  count  the  reproaches  of  Christ  among  these  heathen 
greater  riches  than  the  pleasant  society  of  New  England 
Christians,  and  give  them  no  occasion  justly  to   reproach. 

This  afternoon  the  Indians  are  much  terrified,  supposing  a 
man  and  woman  will  come  here  who  have  had  the  smallpox. 

October  31,  Tuesday. — I  felt  disposed  to  invite  the  blessed 
Savior  to  the  marriage.  I  felt  an  earnest  longing  that  He 
should  rather  come  than  any  person  in  the  world.  O  may  the 
blessed  presence  be  with  us. 

Nov.  1,  1837. — I  was  married  this  afternoon  at  8  o'clock,  to 
Miss  Sarah  Poage,  by  Rev.  Stephen  R.  Riggs.  The  guests 
were  the  members  of  the  Mission,  Mr.  Renville's  family,  and  a 
number  of  Indians,  and  I  trust  our  Savior  was  with  us  by  His 
spirit  in  our  hearts. 

Saturday  Minnie-apa-win  and  To-te-duta-win  were  exam- 
ined for  admission  to  the  church,  and  received  with  hesitation. 
Sarah  and  Catharine  were  baptised.  Perhaps  more  Indians 
have  attended  meeting  to-day  than  have  ever  attended  at  once. 
O  that  their  eyes  may  be  opened. 

Sunday  seven  made  a  profession  of  their  faith,  in  church, 
and  received  the  sacrament  of  the  Supper. 


388  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Sixteenth. — All  the  week  has  been  as  Monday,  except  that 
I  got  one  word,  and  do  not  yet  know  what  it  means. 

Sunday,  17th. — Dr.  Williamson  read  some  translations  he 
had  prepared  to  six  women  and  a  few  children  in  the  morning. 
In  the  afternoon  he  read  a  sermon  in  English.  We  went  to 
Mr.  K.'s  in  the  evening  to  sing.  Several  of  the  women  came 
together.  AVe  sang  three  or  four  Dakota  hymns.  I  spoke  to 
them  a  little  of  God's  urging  us  to  seek  the  salvation  he  has 
Inade  ready,  and  which  is  waiting  for  us,  by  the  considera- 
tions of  heaven  and  hell.  The  meeting  was  closed  by  a  short 
prayer  by  myself  in  Dakota.  The  Indians  have  planted,  I 
suppose,  about  thirty  acres  of  corn  at  this  village. 

July  16th. — Spent  most  of  the  forenoon  in  reading  the 
translation  of  the  story  of  Joseph  by  my  brother,  which  Mr. 
Rigg's  brought  up,  with  him,  and  in  conversation  with  Wam- 
diokie,  who  says  he  belie  v^es  now  that  all  men  are  sinners, 
or  have  hearts  inclined  to  evil,  though  he  did  not  believe  it, 
he  says,  "  when  you  first  told  me  so."  So  I  was  better  able  to 
tell  him  why  Christ  died,  and  the  necessity  of  believing  in 
him  in  order  to  be  at  peace  with  God. 

Wednesday,  18th. — I  had  a  visit  this  afternoon  from  Wam- 
diokie,  who  had  much  to  say  about  our  labors  here,  other 
missions,  wars,  etc.  One  fact  worthy  of  particular  notice  he 
confessed  concerning  the  nation  of  the  Sioux,  that  "  They 
are  wicked  exceedingly  ;"  to  use  his  own  expression,  "  What 
God  loves  is  good,  and  men  are  commanded  to  do,  they  have 
gathered  all  together,  hated  and  destroyed  ;  and  what  God 
hates  and  disallows,  they  have  gathered  all  together,  and  love 
and  do  that  only." 

Saturday,  26tli. — Dr.  W.  returned  to-day  from  his  visit  to 
Big  Stone  Lake  with  Mons.  Nicollet. 

Twenty-sixth. — This  afternoon  I  had  some  conversation 
with  Kayan  Hotanka,  who  is  strongly  of  the  opinion  that  their 
religion  and  that  of  the  Bible  are  the  same,  and  that  he  has 
been  a  Christian  twenty  years.  Deluded  man  !  Can  these 
dry  bonces  live  ? 

AVedncsday,  17tli.  The  Indians  are  making  the  valley  ring 
with  th(dr  yells  at  sc-ali)-dance,  but  I  hoi)e  their  time  is  now 
short,  as  they  will  bury  the  scalp  as  soon  as  the  leaves  are  all 
fallen  ofP. 


OF    MINNESOTA   AND   ITS    PEOPLE.  38ii 

Lac-(iui-parle,  Ft'l)ruary,  1830. — Heard  that  Cuna^i  was 
left  tliirty-iive  miles  northeast  of  here  to  die  of  hunger,  by 
her  mother.  A  few  days  later  heard  that  Intpa  left  his 
mother  and  aunt  t(>n  days  away  to  die  of  hunger  because  they 
were  unable  to  walk. 

AT   LAKE   HARRIET  (NOW   IN    HENNEPIN   COUNTY)    IN   1839. 

July  1839.  Sioux  killed  sixty  Chippewas  at  Rum  river. 
Names  of  Indians  who  raised  corn  at  Lake  Calhoun,  and 
amounts  raised  by  each  :  Canpuha,  100  bushels  ;  Xarirota, 
50  bushels  ;  Hoxidan-sapa,  50  bushels  ;  Ho-waxte,  20  bushels, 
Karboca,  240  bushels  ;  Ohin,-paduta,  440  bushels.  In  all, 
1,300  bushels. 

Sunday,  January  13th,  1840.  -  To-day  talked  myself  tired 
with  some  Indians  who  came  after  corn,  and  was  able  to  tell 
them  what  I  thought,  so  that  they  might,  if  they  would, 
understand  what  they  must  do  to  be  saved.  One  said,  as  they 
frequently  do,  that  if  the  Dakotas  could  hear  these  things 
they  would  think  of  them  ;"  another  said,  "  Nobody  would 
think  even  though  they  might  hear."  At  their  request  we 
sung  two  or  three  hj'mns  in  their  language.  They  then  said, 
"  Now  if  you  would  give  us  a  good  supper  then  we  should  like 
it."     They  are  sensual,  and  only  God  can  make  them  spiritual. 

In  1841  the  Indians  sell  their  land  for  8555,000. 

February  10,  1844. — The  ninth  coffin  I  have  made  since 
October.  In  March  the  Indians  were  all  convinced  it  was 
April,  and  near  the  close  of  the  month  the  mercury  fell  to 
three  degrees  below  zero.  The  lowest  of  the  winter  was  ten 
below.     April  1st,  heard  that  an  Indian  perished  with  cold. 

In  1847  some  of  the  Indians  had  a  drunken  frolic,  and  one 
bit  off  the  nose  of  another,  which  some  say  he  swallowed,  and 
others  that  they  found  it  near  the  house  the  next  day.  The 
son  of  the  one  who  lost  his  nose  shot  the  one  Avho  bit  it  off  in 
the  face  with  shot,  but  probably  did  not  hurt  him  very  much. 
I  am  acquainted  with  some  who  have  had  their  fingers  and 
thumbs  bitten  off  on  such  occasions.  Fine  sport,  but  it  some- 
times causes  unpleasant  feelings  among  them,  but  that  is 
more  than  overbalanced  by  affording  an  interesting  subject  of 
conversation. 

The  Indians  have  had  high  times  to-day.  1  am  moi-e  and 
more  confirmed  in  the  opinion  that  as  a  general  thing  they 


390 


PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS 


are  extremely  glad  when  one  is  killed  by  an  enemy.  A  great 
parade  is  always  made  at  the  burial.  To-day  has  been  pecu- 
liarly interesting.  AVhat  made  it  highly  so,  they  killed  a  beef 
weighing  between  800  and  900  pounds,  and  have  eaten  most 
of  it.  In  addition  to  beef  they  had  a  keg  of  whisky,  which 
would  greatly  enhance  the  interest  of  an  event  in  itself  inter- 
esting. Those  who  have  killed  an  enemy  were  permitted  to 
sit  together  and  one  by  one  relate  their  stories  and  have  it 
pictured  on  a  great  long  board  previously  procured  and 
planed  for  the  purpose.  This  afternoon  a  neighboring  Indian 
brought  a  keg  of  the  stuff  to  our  village  and  invited  the  chief 
and  chief  soldier  to  drink.  The  invitation  was  refused,  which 
so  angered  them  them  that  now  about  sunset  they  are  about 
killing  Marpi-wicaxta,  and  are  running  about  the  village  and 
howling.  The  women  and  children  all  fled  and  hid.  I  con- 
clude no  one  was  killed,  as  they  are  all  quiet  and  no  coffin  is 
wanted. 

An  affair  came  off  this  afternoon,  not  a  very  uncommon 
occurrence  among  the  Indians.  Karboka's  daughter  got  into 
a  quarrel  with  her  little  brother,  and  as  her  father  could  not 
stop  her  without,  he  whipped  her.  The  girl  being  very  angry 
came  over  to  the  hill  by  our  house,  where  the  dead  are  laid 
upon  a  scaffold,  to  bewail  her  misfortune.  Her  grandmother, 
hearing  her  from  the  field  where  she  was  picking  corn,  left 
her  work  and  came  over  to  see  what  was  the  matter  with  her 
granddaughter.  Like  all  good  grannies,  on  hearing  from  the 
girl  that  her  father  had  punished  her,  she  became  enraged, 
and  in  revenge  hung  herself  by  a  portage  collar  to  the  scaf- 
fold on  which  the  corpses  lie.  The  little  girl,  seeing  her 
sympathetic  grandmother  in  such  a  j^redicament,  was  so  ter- 
rified that  she  set  up  such  a  screaming  that  it  called  us  out. 
It  was  in  sight  of  our  door.  Jane  was  first  on  the  ground  and 
had  the  old  woman  loosed  before  we  arrived.  Even  with 
their  views  of  futurity,  the  old  woman  acted  a  very  foolish 
part,  for  when  one  hangs  herself,  as  a  punishment  for  the  act 
she  will  have  to  drag  through  eternity  that  which  they  hang 
themselves  to  and  be  driven  about  by  others.  Now  the  old 
woman  would  have  had  the  whole  scaffold,  which  would  have 
made  her  a  severe  load.  She  is  the  same  woman  who  over- 
came her  husband  a  short  time  ago. 


OF    MINNEOSTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  391 

Another  man's  nose  gone  !  At  Little  Crow's  village  after 
they  had  drank  themselves  to  the  brave  point  one  of  the  sons 
of  the  chief  showed  himself  to  be  a  man  by  biting  off  the  nose 
of  another  man.  It  is  thought  that  it  will  lead  to  murder,  as 
the  sufferer  has  declared  himself  ready  to  die — an  expressive 
way  of  making  known  their  intention  to  revenge  an  injury  by 
taking  life. 

May  13th,  1850. — Last  week  the  Indians  renewed  their 
threats  against  those  who  are  disposed  to  come  to  our  religious 
meetings  ;  the  fact  that  two  or  three  women  who  have  never 
before  attended  have  been  attracted  to  us  a  few  Sabbaths  of 
late  is  the  occasion  of  it.  The  great  men  appear  to  fear  that 
if  they  let  them  alone  all  the  common  people  will  go  away 
and  believe  on  Jesus.  It  is  reported  that  Red  Boy  said  that 
whereas  the  missionaries  were  getting  away  all  the  money, 
the  clothes  should  be  torn  from  all  who  came  to  our  meetings 
on  the  Sabbath. 

Nov.  4th,  1850. — Went  to  St.  Paul  with  a  manuscript  copy 
of  the  Dakota  Friend,  and  put  it  into  the  hands  of  the  printer. 
It  has  been  with  great  reluctance  that  I  have  attempted  the 
work  of  editing  this  little  paper.  It  has  been  laid  upon  me 
by  the  missionaries  under  God.  If  I  must  perform  this  ser- 
vice ;  if  it  is  the  will  of  God  that  I  should  ;  He  will  enable 
me  to  do  it ;  without  his  assistance  I  cannot  succeed.  Lord 
I  look  to  theo  for  strength  as  my  day  shall  be,  and  may  thy 
rich  blessing  attend  this  enterprise.  O  give  wisdom  and  dis- 
i^retion  that  I  may  conduct  this  difficult  and  responsible  work 
in  thy  fear  and  to  thy  glory.  What  am  I  that  I  should  per- 
form such  a  service. 

November  27th.  Started  early  for  St.  Paul  and  returned 
in  the  evening  fasting.  On  my  way  home  met  Gov.  Kamsey, 
who  kindly  invited  me  hereafter  in  my  visits  to  St.  Paul  to 
stop  at  his  house  and  have  my  horse  put  in  his  stable.  Last 
week  I  fastened  a  bundle  of  hay  on  behind  me  for  the  poor 
beast,  which  had  to  stand  the  whole  day  and  wait  for  me. 
It  is  no  hardship  to  fast  myself.  It  was  with  great  anxiety 
that  I  waited  to  see  the  first  number  of  the  Dakota  Friend. 
It  made  a  more  creditalile  appearance  than  was  anticipated, 
and  yet  there  was  sufficient  in  it  to  mortify  me.  The  blun- 
ders of  the  compositor  added  to  my  own  inexperience. 


CHAPTER   LI. 

The  Old  Settlers  at  tlie  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  and  Pioneers 
of  Hennepin  county,  who  were  here  before  the  first  of  Janu- 
ary, 1853,  formed  an  Association  in  1867,  for  the  preservation 
of  a  record  of  the  incidents  of  their  early  settlement,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  cherishing  and  perpetuating  the  friendships 
formed  in  pioneer  days.  The  articles  of  association  were 
signed  by  Isaac  At  water,  Joseph  Canney,  William  Hanson, 
B.  B.  Meeker,  L.  N.  Parker,  J.  B.  Bassett,  E.  P.  Russell, 
Edwin  Hedderly,  Samuel  Stanchfield,  James  Hoffman,  James 
Sully,  Waterman  Stinson,  Alvin  Stone,  Isaac  E.  Lane,  Alonzo 
Learning  Sr.,  James  Shaver,  William  P.  Day,  James  A.  Len- 
non,  William  Dickie,  John  Wensinger,  Samuel  Stough,  Cal- 
vin Church,  Charles  Hoag,  Allen  Harmon,  S.  W.  Case, 
Edward  Murphy,  Thomas  Chambers,  A.  E.  Ames,  John  H. 
Stevens,  A.  K.  Hartwell,  Anson  Northrup,  A.  D.  Foster,  W. 
A.  Rowell,  Emery  Worthingham,  Calvin  A.  Tuttle,  W.  G. 
Moffett,  L.  W.  Stratton,  F.  C.  Coolbaugh,  J.  P.  Miller,  Geo. 
E.  Huy,  Geo.  W.  Chowen,  Isaac  I.  Lewis,  Pierre  Bottineau, 
John  B.  Bottineau,  and  Edgar  Folsom. 

At  the  first  banquet  about  two  hundred  signed  the  roll, 
giving  the  date  of  their  arrival.  At  this  meeting,  (twenty- 
two  years  ago)  Dr.  A.  E.  Ames  said  :  "  When  General  Grant 
"  i)aid  a  visit  to  this  city,  not  long  since,  he  remarked  that  the 
"  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  was  the  great  workshop  of  the  North- 
"  west.  I  have  no  doubt  this  great  workshop,  in  a  few  years 
"  will  contain  fifty  thousand  inhabitants,  and  there  are  some 
"  in  this  room  who  will  live  to  see  it  contain  one  hundred 
"thousand  industrious  citizens." 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  393 

John  H.  Stevens  delivered  the  first  annual  address.  The 
-.'^i-coiid  annual  address  Avas  delivered  by  Isaac  Atvvater  in  1868. 
Ill  it  he  said  :  "It  is  given  to  but  few  in  a  lifetime  to  see 
"  what  has  been  revealed  to  us  in  less  than  a  score  of  years. 
"  If  to  others  has  been  granted  the  reaping  of  the  full  harvest, 
*'  to  us  has  been  vouchsafed  the  first,  and  perhaps  noblest 
"duty,  of  sowing  the  seeds,  and  the  exceeding  pleasure  of 
"  watching  the  early  growth  and  increasing  luxuriance  of 
^'  judicious  plantings." 

Referring  to  those  races  which  preceded  the  old  settlers  in 
the  occupation  of  this  soil.  Judge  Atwater  related  an  incident : 
*'  It  was  in  May,  1851.  The  day  was  warm  and  bright,  the 
grass  already  green  and  luxuriant,  and  many  prairie  flowers 
in  bloom,  and  it  seemed  one  could  hardly  desire  a  more  lovely 
prospect,  from  the  bluffs  just  below  the  old  stone  mill  on  this 
side  of  the  river.  As  I  came  in  sight  of  the  falls  I  observed 
six  Dakota  warriors  standing  on  the  bank  gazing  intently  at 
the  rapids.  Four  of  them  had  firearms,  and  two  bows  and 
arrows.  How  long  they  may  have  been  there  I  know  not,  but 
I  watched  them  for  more  than  an  hour,  scarcely  changing  their 
position,  but  ever  gazing  earnestly  on  the  beautiful  cataract, 
and  also  doubtless  on  the  few  buildings  that  were  to  be  seen 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  I  then  passed  on  by  them,  and 
observed  that  one  of  their  number  was  evidently  very  old. 
I  again  passed  on  the  bluff  this  side  of  the  falls  and  watched 
them  an  half  hour  longer  until  they  started  slowly  down  the 
stream.  At  the  foot  of  the  bluff  near  where  is  now  the  lower 
end  of  the  canal,  they  turned  and  looked  upon  the  falls  some 
minutes,  and  again  still  longer  when  they  reached  the  top  of 
the  bluff,  and  then  slowly  turned  their  faces  toward  the  setting 
sun  and  departed.  More  of  them  I  do  not  know  ;  but  who 
can  doubt  but  that  they  were  taking  their  last  inexpressibly 
sad  farewell  of  their  lovely  and  loved  laughing  waters,  which 
they  saw  were  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  pale-faces.  That 
the  Indians  are  capable  of  appreciating  the  beauties  of  nature 
cannot  be  doubted,  and  to  see  this  glorious  heritage  of  their 
fathers  slipping  from  their  grasp  by  a  stern,  irrevokable  fate, 
must  fill  their  breasts  with  poignant  anguish." 

Of  one  of  the  old  settlers,  Pierre  Bottineau,  whose  life  has 
perhaps  been  more  full  of  thrilling  adventure  and  romantic 


394  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

interest  than  that  of  any  other  individual  save  the  renowned 
Kit  Carson,  the  speaker,  in  the  same  address,  said  :  "  Born 
"  half  a  century  since,  within  the  limits  of  Dakota  Territory, 
"  spending  his  whole  life  on  the  frontier,  speaking  with  fluency 
"  five  different  languages,  familiar  with  the  habits  and  customs 
"of  several  different  tribes  of  Indians,  renowned  as  a  guide, 
"  hunter  and  voyageur,  intimately  acquainted  with  the  whole 
"vast  country  north  and  west  of  us  to  the  Rocky  mountains, 
"  and  once  the  owner  of  the  soil  where  a  portion  of  the  city  of 
"  St.  Anthony  now  stands,  his  life  affords  the  richest  material 
"  for  the  pen  of  the  biographer,  and  merits  a  place  in  our  rec- 
"  ords,  agid  even  a  wider  publicity  than  it  would  there  obtain." 

The  third  annual  address  was  delivered  by  Charles  Hoag, 
the  fourth  by  E.  M.  Johnson,  and  the  fifth  by  William  R. 
Marshall.  The  last  named  gentleman,  in  1871,  said  :  "  Almost 
a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  I  stood  on  the  banks  of  the  grand 
old  river,  and  in  hearing  of  the  great  falls.  On  a  beautiful 
September  day  I  followed  the  winding  trail  from  the  little 
French  settlement  that  clustered  around  Father  Galtiers' 
log  church  which  gave  the  name  of  St.  Paul  to  the  the  present 
city — across  the  beautiful  prairie  and  over  the  wooded  hills, 
to  what  my  French  guide  called  San  Antoine.  And  when 
with  weary  feet  I  stood  at  last,  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day, 
on  the  brink  of  the  falls,  I  saw  them  in  all  their  beauty  and 
grandeur,  unmarred  by  the  hand  of  man — in  such  beauty  of 
nature  as  no  one  has  seen  them  in  the  last  twenty-two  years. 

"  The  falls  were  then  almost  perpendicular  ;  that  of  the 
main  channel  many  hundred  feet  lower  down  than  the  present 
falls.  Spirit  island,  now  almost  wasted  away,  was  then  a 
considerable  wood-crowned  island,  just  a  little  below  the  main 
falls.  Cataract  and  Nicollet  islands  were  densely  wooded. 
The  smooth  river  gliding  over  its  sloping  bed  of  limestone 
from  near  midway  of  the  upper  island,  plunged  over  the  bro- 
ken edge  of  its  rocky  bed  much  nearer  the  lower  end  of 
Cataract  island,  on  both  sides,  than  it  does  now. 

"  Save  the  old  government  mill  on  the  west  side,  so  small 
as  to  be  half  hidden  among  the  rocks  and  trees  of  the  river 
bank,  there  was  only  the  habitation  that  belonged  to  it.  A  little 
further  back  there  was  only  a  state  of  nature  on  that  side. 

"  On  this,  the  St.  Anthony  side  of  the  river,  there  was  an 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    I'EOPLE.  395 

old  log  house  opposite  the  falls,  by  which  Mr.  Steele  held  his 
claim  to  the  laiids,  with  a  little  field  of  corn  attached  covering 
a  few  acres  of  the  plateau  where  Caj^tain  Piollin's  house  and 
the  Tremout  house  now  stand.  A  log  house  was  then  being 
built  under  the  hill  above  the  present  mill,  to  be  used  for  tlie 
men  who  were  soon  to  commence  work  piitting  in  the  mill, 
dam.  These,  with  Pierre  Bottineau's  house  on  the  bank 
above  the  head  of  Nicollet  island,  Calvin  A.  Tuttle's  chum 
shanty  near  the  brook  this  side  of  the  State  University,  and 
two  or  three  French  squatters'  ca])ins,  were  all  that  marked 
the  presence  of  man  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi. 

As  the  light  of  the  fast  declining  sun  of  that  auti^mn  day 
bathed  the  tops  of  the  trees  and  the  summits  of  the  gentle 
hills,  and  as  the  plunging,  seething,  deafening  falls  sent  up 
the  mist  and  set  its  rainbow  arching  the  same,  I  was  tilled 
with  a  sense  of  the  beautiful,  and  somewhat  of  the  awe- 
inspiring,  in  nature,  such  as  I  have  rarely  since  experienced." 

ADDRESS   BY   EEV.    E.    D.    NEILL. 

In  1872,  Rev.  E.  D.  Neill  delivered  the  sixth  annual  address, 
which  contained  :  "'  Whenever  we  witness  growth,  we  desire 
to  know  something  of  what  was  in  the  beginning.  In  all  ages 
men  have  looked  back  with  reverence  to  the  origin  of  things, 
and  have  loved  to  compare  the  time  that  was  with  the  present 
hour — the  then  with  the  now.  To  gratify  this  desire  the 
Hebrew  lawgiver,  Moses,  was  inspired  to  write  the  opening 
sentences  of  the  earliest  historical  record,  which  the  old  Greek 
lawgivers  pronounced  sublime. 

The  patriot  is  always  refreshed  by  tracing  the  successive 
stages  of  the  development  of  national  life  and  power  ;  and  so 
the  dwellers  of  particular  neighborhoods  are  strengthened  by 
coming  together  and  remembering  the  days  of  old. 

In  this  new  city  of  the  upper  Mississippi,  Neapolis,  as  the 
ancient  Greeks  would  have  termed  it  in  their  beautiful  and 
flexible  language,  we  are  forcibly  reminded  of  growth.  It  is 
difficult  to  realize  that  a  busy  population  of  twenty  thousand 
occupy  the  ground  that  so  many  of  us  remember  as  the  land 
of  the  Dakotas  and  an  uncultivated  prairie. 

Imlay,  a  British  subject,  visited  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi 
before  the  close  of  the  last  century,  while  Congress  held  its 
'session  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  his  book  upon  the  Western 


396  PERSONAL    RECOLLECTIONS 

Territory,  published  in  London  in  1797,  lie  wrote  that  he 
thought  it  was  rather  puerile  in  the  United  States  to  think  of 
making  their  seat  of  government  upon  the  Potomac  ;  and  at 
that  early  date  expressed  the  opinion  that  in  the  course  of  a 
century  the  vicinity  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  ought  to  be 
the  permanent  seat  of  government. 

I  can  but  feel  that  it  would  be  injurious  to  the  dignity  of 
the  American  citizens  ever  to  abandon  the  magnificent  capitol 
at  Washington,  whose  lofty  dome  was  being  completed 
while  a  vast  army  of  insurgents  were  camped  on  adjacent 
hillsides,  and  whose  solidity  and  simple  adornments  are  typi- 
cal of  a  Republic  whose  President  is  elected  from  the  people  ; 
and  yet  when  I  witness  the  city  that  has  developed  at  the 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  within  the  last  ten  years,  and  consider 
the  population  that  must  follow  the  line  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  railway  for  the  next  twenty-five  years,  I  am  inclined 
to  believe  that  Mr,  Imlay's  prediction  may  prove  true,  and 
that  before  A,  D.  1900  the  center  of  population  of  the  Ameri- 
can Republic  may  be  in  the  Northwest,  and  perhaps,  as  the 
Hon.  W.  H.  Seward  said,  in  his  Minnesota  address,  *  The 
ultimate  seat  of  government  on  this  great  continent  will  be 
found  somewhere  not  very  far  from  the  head  of  navigation  of 
the  Mississippi  river. 

On  the  15th  of  August,  1829,  Agent  Taliaferro  established 
an  Indian  agricultural  school  at  Lake  Calhoun,  which  he 
named  Eatonville  after  the  Secretary  of  War,  whose  wife 
caused  so  much  disturbance  in  Washington  social  circles 
during  the  days  of  President  Jackson.  The  surgeon  of  the 
Fort  in  1829  was  a  young  man,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  Dr. 
R.  C.  Wood,  and  while  there  he  went  down  to  the  garrison  at 
Prairie  du  Chien,  and  married  the  eldest  daughter  of  Zachary 
Taylor,  the  ofiicer  in  command  at  that  post.  In  an  open  boat 
he  returned  to  Fort  Snelling  with  his  youthful  bride.  How 
wonderful  the  changes  witnessed  by  that  family  in  forty  years ! 
The  father  of  the  bride  became  President  of  the  LTnited  States 
and  lived  long  enough  to  see  the  clouds  of  rebellion  gathering 
in  the  South,  and  to  abhor  the  plotters  for  disunion  ;  while 
Jefferson  Davis,  a  son-in-law  of  General  Taylor,  became  the 
President  of  the  so-called  confederate  states.  Dr.  Wood 
proved  true   to  the  government,   and  during  the  war  was 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS    PEOPLE.  397 

assistant  surgeon  general  of  the  United  States  army  ;  but  his 
son  followed  the  South,  and  was  the  commander  of  that  noted 
rebel  privateer,  the  Tallahassee. 

Among  the  few  slaves  ever  brought  within  the  limits  of 
Minnesota  several  belonged  to  Major  Taliaferro.  Under  date 
of  the  2Gtli  of  May  of  the  same  year,  we  find  in  his  journal 
this  entry  :  '  Captain  Plympton  wishes  to  purchase  my  servant 
girl.  I  informed  him  that  it  was  my  intention  to  give  her 
freedom  after  a  limited  time,  but  that  Mrs.  Plympton  could 
keep  her  for  two  years,  or  perhaps  three. 

In  183G  Dred  Scott,  whose  name  has  become  historic,  came 
to  Fort  Snelling  with  his  master.  Surgeon  Emerson,  and  fell 
in  love  with  Taliaferro's  slave  girl,  Harriet,  and  in  due  time 
the  marriage  agreement  was  made  in  the  Major's  presence,  and 
was  duly  certified  by  him  as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Two 
years  after  this  Mr.  Emerson  left  the  Fort,  taking  with  him 
Dred  Scott  and  his  wife,  and  while  descending  the  river  on 
the  steamboat  Gipsey  the  wife  gave  birth  to  her  first  bom. 
The  decision  of  Chief  Justice  Taney  relative  to  the  right  of 
Dred  Scott  as  a  citizen  led,  as  we  all  know,  to  acrimonious 
discussions  between  the  friends  of  freedom  and  slavery,  and 
was  one  of  the  causes  that  led  to  the  fratricidal  war  which 
wiped  out  with  much  precious  blood  the  '  sable  spot'  upon  the 
escutchion  of  American  liberty,  to  which  Moore  in  one  of  his 
poems  tauntingly  alludes. 

The  earliest  marriages  in  Hennepin  county  were  declared 
in  accordance  with  the  forms  of  the  civil  law,  before  Lawrence 
Taliaferro,  as  justice  of  the  peace.  On  July  3,  1835,  Hippo- 
lite  Provost  was  married  to  Margaret  Bruuell,  and  on  the  29th 
of  the  same  month  a  Mr.  Godfrey  married  Sophia  Perry.  In 
February,  1836,  Charles  Musseau  was  married  to  Fanny,  the 
daughter  of  Abraham  Perry,  a  Swiss  emigrant  who  came  from 
the  Hudson  Bay  Territory  in  1827,  and  settled  at  first  between 
the  Fort  and  Minnehaha,  and  afterwards  when  the  military 
reservation  was  defined,  built  a  log  house  in  what  is  now  a 
suburb  of  St.  Paul.  On  September  12th,  1846,  at  the  house  of 
Oliver  Crattle,  near  the  Fort,  James  Wells,  who  subsequently 
was  a  member  of  the  territorial  legislature,  and  was  killed  in 
the  late  Sioux  massacre,  was  married  to  Jane,  daughter  of 
Duncan  Graham,  and  on  the  29th  of  November,  at  the  quar- 


398  PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS 

ters  of  Captain  Barker,  Alpheus  E.  French,  the  errly  saddler 
of  St.  Paul,  was  married  to  Mary  Henry.  One  of  the  first 
ecclesiastical  ceremonies  in  the  county  took  place  at  Lake 
Harriet  in  1839,  when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gavin  was  married  to 
Miss  Stevens,  a  teacher  in  the  mission  school  at  that  point." 

ADDRESS  BY  GIDEON  H.  POND. 

In  1873  Gideon  H.  Pond  delivered  an  address  at  an  Old 
Settlers'  picnic  on  the  banks  of  Lake  Harriet,  in  which  rem- 
iniscent discourse  he  dwelt  ^  upon  his  pioneer  experience  of 
savage  life  in  what  is  now  Hennepin  county.  It  is  now,  1889, 
just  sixty  years  since  Major  Taliaferro  established  an  Indian 
agricultural  school  at  Lake  Calhoun.  This  great  northwest- 
ern territory,  with  its  rivers,  lakes,  and  plains,  stretching  out 
to  the  east,  west,  north,  and  south,  was  a  seemingly  "  intermin- 
"  able  extent  of  earth,  naked  and  empty  of  all  traces  of  civil- 
"  ized  life,  (with  few  exceptions, )  the  abode  only  of  savage 
"  beasts,  wild  fowl,  and  savage,  pagan  man.  Little  clusters  of 
"  smoky  wigwams  along  the  rivers  and  around  the  lakes,  con- 
"tained  the  rude  inhabitants  of  all  the  region." 

On  a  July  day  in  1839,  now  just  half  a  century  ago,  at  Lake 
Harriet,  Mr.  Pond  says  there  was  "  a  cluster  of  summer  huts, 
"  constructed  of  small  poles  and  barks  of  trees,  the  summer 
"  home  of  four  or  five  hundred  savage  souls,  surrounded  by 
"  their  gardens  of  corn  and  squashes.  It  was  an  Indian  vil- 
"  lage.  The  five  hundred  had  swarmed  out  into  and  around 
"  the  shores  of  the  lakes.  Men,  women  and  children  were 
"  all  engaged  in  hunting,  chopping,  fishing,  swimming,  play- 
"  ing,  singing,  yelling,  whooping,  and  wailing.  The  air  was 
"  full  of  all  sorts  of  savage  sounds,  frightful  to  one  unaccus- 
"  tomed  to  them.  The  clamor  and  clatter  on  all  sides  made 
"  me  feel  that  I  was  in  the  midst  of  barbarism.  And  I  was. 
"  Suddenly,  like  a  peal  of  thunder  when  no  cloud  is  visible, 
"  here,  there,  everywhere,  awoke  the  startling  alarm  whoop, 
"  *  Hoo,  hoo,  hoo  !'  Blankets  were  thrown  in  the  air,  men, 
"women  and  children  ran  -  they  ran  for  life.  Terror  sat  on 
"  every  face — mothers  grasped  their  little  ones.  All  around 
"was  crying,  wailing,  shrieking,  storming  and  scolding.  Men 
"  vowed  vengeance,  whooped  defiance,  and  dropped  bullets 
"into  their  gun-barrels.  The  excitement  was  intense  and 
"  universal.  The  Chippewas  !  The  Chippewas  have  surrounded 


OF   MINNESOTA   AND    ITS   PEOPLE.  399 

"  US — we  shall  all  bo  butchered  !  Rupacokamaza  is  killed  ! 
"  Ah,  yes  !  just  across  there,  on  the  other  bank  of  Lake 
Harriet — there  he  lies,  all  bloody,  the  soul  is  gone  from  the 
body,  escaping  through  that  bullet  hole,  the  scalp  is  torn  from 
the  head.  A  crowd  has  gathered,  and  every  heart  is  hot  with 
wrath.  Ah,  me  !  what  wailing !  what  imprecation  !  The 
dead  one  is  the  son-in-law  of  the  chief,  and  nephew  to  the 
medicine  man,  Redbird.  Every  warrior,  young  and  old,  utters 
his  determined  vow  of  vengeance  as  Redbird  stoops  to  press 
liis  lips  on  the  yet  warm,  bleeding  corpse,  cursing  the  enemy 
in  the  name  of  the  gods.  Now  see  the  runners  scud  in  all 
directions.  In  an  hour  or  two  the  warriors  begin  to  arrive, 
painted,  moccasined,  victualed,  and  armed  for  the  war  path. 
Indian  warriors  are  all  minute  men.  Come  with  me  to  St. 
Anthony  Falls.  Here  is  the  unspoiled  river,  rushing  unhin- 
dered down  his  rocky  bed — naught  else.  We  will  stand  on 
the  rocky  bluff.  Now  come  the  avengers  of  blood  !  They 
come  from  Shakopee,  from  Eaglehead,  from  Goodroad,  from 
Badhail  and  from  Blackdog.  All  the  hot  afternoon  of  this 
July  day  they  cross  and  recross  their  canoes  over  the  bosom 
of  the  river  at  the  head  of  the  island.  The  sun  is  just  ready 
to  sink,  as  we  look  at  the  long  row  of  warriors,  seated  on  th(- 
east  bank.  That  tall  form,  dressed  not  much  unlike  Adam 
before  the  fall,  save  war  paint,  at  the  head  of  the  line,  is  Red- 
bird.  One  long  wail  goes  up  from  three  or  four  hundred 
savage  throats,  as  Redbird  utters  his  imprecatory  prayer  to 
the  gods.  He  presents  to  them  the  pipe  of  war,  and  it  goes 
down  the  ranks,  as  he  follows  it,  laying  his  hands  on  the  head 
of  each,  binding  him  by  all  that  is  sacred  in  human  relation- 
ships and  religion,  to  strike  for  the  gods,  and  for  Redbird. 

The  next  evening  the  dusky  runners  begin  to  arrive  at  Lake 
Calhoun  from  the  battle-ground  at  Rum  river,  where  Redbird 
is  killed,  his  son  is  killed,  a  dozen  other  Dakotas  are  killed, 
and  the  Chippewas  are  nearly  all  killed  !  Seventy  scalps  dangle 
from  the  poles  in  the  center  of  the  village,  close  by  the  tepee  of 
the  fathor-in-laW  of  Philander  Prescott.  The  scali)-dance 
lasted  for  a  month.     It  seemed  as  if  hell  had  em])tied  itself  here. 

"  Glorious  contrast !  Cities  now  stand  thick  along  your 
rivers,  Civilized  man  everywhere.  Schools,  academies,  col- 
leges, and  churches  fill  the  land.     Grace,  mercy  and  peace  !" 


400  PERSONAL    liECOLLECTIONS 

LETTER   OF   DR.  CHAS.  L.  ANDERSON,  WRITTEN  ON  SOLICITATION. 

Old  Settlers :  Dear  Friends :  Almost  half  a  century  ago  I  began 
pioneering,  and  I  have  been  a  settler  from  the  Alleghany  moun- 
tains to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  taking  a  swath  of  latitude  nearly 
ten  degrees  wide.  After  helping  you,  in  my  humble  way,  to 
plant  the  Garden  of  Eden,  I  have  left  you  in  the  midst  thereof 
and  gone  out  of  Paradise  on  the  west  side,  following  the  river 
"that  went  out  of  Eden,"  up  the  branch  Pison,  "which  com- 
passeth  the  whole  land  of  Havilah,  where  there  is  gold."  I 
have  followed  the  evening  star  to  the  orchards  of  the  Hesperi- 
des,  in  search  of  golden  apples,  and  have  found  none  !  Whilst 
you  who  have  remained  to  dress  the  garden  have  eaten  the 
fruit  and  become  wise.  May  the  curse  that  followed  Adam 
and  Eve  never  be  pronounced  against  you.  And  may  you  be 
the  recipients  of  that  promise  made  to  Abraham  and  the  faith- 
ful when  your  days  of  pioneering  are  over,  "  a  city  which  hath 
foundations  whose  maker  and  builder  is  God." 

But  you  do  not  all  remain.  Now  and  then  I  hear  of  some 
of  your  pioneer  bands  crossing  a  dark  valley,  leaving  tears  and 
sorrowings  behind.  We  do  not  hear  from  them  again,  but 
we  have  the  assurance  that  we  shall  see  them  when  we  reach 
the  beautiful  gate  that  bounds  the  Elysian  shore. 

Happy  Old  Settlers  !  it  would  delight  me  to  take  you  each 
one  by  the  hand  and  look  into  your  faces.  I  think  that  not- 
withstanding the  few  wrinkles  and  gray  hairs  gained  I  should 
be  able  to  read  a  bright  page  of  happiness  set  in  bold  type  and 
ornamented  by  these  blessed  signs  of  age.  So  long  as  our 
bodies  are  free  from  disease  we  should  be  thankful  and  happy, 
and  as  we  grow  old  strive  to  grow  better.  Should  affliction 
be  ours  there  is  a  consolation  that  trial  only  can  purify  and 
make  our  souls  beautiful.  Although  literally  speaking  I  have 
found  no  "golden  apples"  on  this  shore,  yet  I  feel  tolerably 
well  contented,  and  that  is  worth  something,  however  difficult 
it  may  be  to  estimate  its  value  in  gold  or  greenbacks. 

Some  of  my  friends  have  found  golden  bonanzas.  We  ought 
not  to  think  less  of  them  for  their  good  luck,  and  I  hope  we 
do  not  ;  but  bonanzas  are  not  the  best  things  to  be  found, 
especially  when  they  are  alloyed  wnth  much  base  metal,  which 
often  has  a  contaminating  effect  upon  the  finder.    Your  Friend, 

Santa  Cruz,  Cal,  Jan.  22,  1876.  C.  L.  Anderson. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMORANDA— WITH  LETTERS  TO 
COLONEL    JOHN   H.    STEVENS. 


SELECTED  BY  MARSHALL  ROBINSON. 


The  author  of  the  foregoing  "  Personal  Recollections  of  Min- 
nesota and  its  People"  would  seem  to  merit  a  more  extended 
personal  notice  than  appears  therein.  He  has  so  kindly  writ- 
ten of  many  persons  that  it  seems  appropriate  here  to  embody 
theii  views  in  relation  to  him  as  expressed  during  an  intimate 
exchange  of  correspondence  from  fifty  years  ago  to  the  present. 
A  few  preliminary  facts  only  will  be  given. 

John  Harrington  Stevens  was  born  in  Lower  Canada  June 
13tli,  1820.  He  is  the  second  son  of  Gardner  and  Deborah 
Stevens.  His  parents  were  natives  and  citizens  of  Vermont, 
and  their  ancestors  were  also  New  England  people,  many  of 
whom  occupied  positions  in  the  councils  of  the  national  and 
state  governments.  The  mother  ot  Mr.  Stevens  was  the  only 
daughter  of  Dr.  John  Harrington,  a  surgeon  in  the  war  for 
Independence,  who  died  in  Brookfield,  Vermont,  in  1804.  His 
grandfather  also  served  throughout  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Gardner  Stevens,  his  father,  was  a  man  of  wealth  and  influence. 

In  very  early  manhood  Mr.  Stevens  went  to  Galena,  Illinois, 
where  he  lived  for  several  years.  He  then  entered  the  United 
States  militax-y  service  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  serving  in  the 
Quartermaster  s  department.  Leaving  Mineral  Point,  October 
1846,  for  New  Orleans,  he  sailed  thence,  November  Ist,  for 
Brazos  Santiago,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  pro- 
ceeded thence  to  Matamoras,  Mexico.  On  Christmas  morn- 
ing of  that  year  he  left  Matamoras,  with  General  Pillow's 
command,  for  Victoria  via  San  Fernando  in  tlu  State  of  Tarn- 


402  MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS. 

aulipas.  At  Victoria  he  met  General  Zachary  Taylor's  com- 
mand, and  was  sent  to  Tampico,  and  from  there  to  Lol>os 
Island,  Vera  Cruz,  Puebla,  and  the  City  of  Mexico.  He  was 
present  at  the  battles  of  Contreras,  San  Antonia,  Churubusco, 
Molino  del  Rey  and  Chepultepec.  After  the  occupation  of 
the  City  of  Mexico  he  was  sent  to  the  National  Bridge,  in  the 
state  of  Vera  Cruz,  where  he  remained  during  the  winter. 
His  retirement  from  the  army  is  indicated  by  the  following 
oflBcial  correspc  ndence  : 

RESIGNATION    TENDERED. 

Ass't  Q.  M.  Office,  National  Bridge, 
Mexico,  May  13,  1848. 
Colonel  George  R.  McClellan,  Commanding 

Department,  Point  National,  Mexico  : 
Sir — In  consequence  of  being  afflicted  with  sore  eyes,  I  am 
reluctantly  obliged  to  resign  my  office  in  the  Quartermaster 
Department  of  the  United  States  Army  ;  which  berth  it  will 
be  impossible  for  me  to  fill  in  consequence  of  the  above- 
stated  reason. 

I  hope  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to  accept  the  resignation,  which 
I  now  tender,  and  I  can  assure  you  that  it  is  done  with  much 
regret  on  my  part.     With  great  respect,  I  am,  Sir, 

Your  obedient  servant,  John  H.  Stevens. 

RESIGNATION   ACCEPTED. 

Headquarters  Department  of  National  Bridge, 
Mexico,  May  14th,  1848. 
Your  resignation  is  accepted  on  the  grounds  given  by  you. 
The  i3robability  is  that  peace  will  soon  be  made  and  the  troops 
moved  out  of  Mexico. 

In  accepting  your  resignation  I  know  that  the  government  is 
about  to  lose  the  services  of  one  who  has  faithfully  discharged 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  stations  with  credit  to  himself  and 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  that  portion  of  the  army  that  it  has 
been  his  fortune  to  serve  Avith  in  the  tented  field. 

Geo.  R.  McClellan,  Colonel  Com'g  Post. 
Captain  John  H.  Stevens. 

National  Bridge,  Mexico,  May  30th,  1848. 
The  above  are  recorded  in  the  Colonel's  Register. 

Count  de  Larn,  Acting  Secretary. 


MEMORANDA  AND   LETTEK.S.  403 

Quartermaster's  Department,  Assistant  Office, 

Puenta  Natiouiil,  Mexico,  May  30th,  1H48. 

My  Dear  Sir  :  You  will  leave  this  eveniu}^  in  charge  of  the 
train  for  Vera  Cruz,  and  will  be  constantly  on  the  alert,  being 
sure  to  enforce  good  order  with  the  escort  and  guard  against 
any  attack  that  may  be  made  by  the  enemy. 

On  your  arrival  at  Vera  Cruz  you  will  immediately  embark 
on  a  government  transport  vessel  for  New  Orleans,  at  which 
place,  by  your  own  request,  j'ou  will  be  mustered  out  of  service. 

The  department  cannot  allow  you  to  retire  to  private  life 
without  expressing  deep  and  sincere  thanks  for  the  valual)le 
services  you  have  rendered  to  it  for  the  last  two  years.  You 
justly  merit  the  approbation  of  your  brother  officers  and  of 
every  soldier  in  the  American  army,  and  it  affords  mo  much 
satisfaction  to  say  that  the  whole  command  sees  you  retire 
with  sorrow  and  regret,  all  hoping  that  you  will  have  a  happy 
and  prosperous  journey  home,  and  that  you  may  hereafter 
enjoy  the  society  of  your  friends  in  that  degree  of  hapi^iness 
which  exalted  worth  always  surrounds  the  honest  and  noble 
of  mankind.        Sam'l  G.  McClellan,  A.  Q.  M.  and  A.  A.  C.  S. 

To.  John  H.  Stevens,  U.  S.  C.  Q.  M.  and  P.  Master. 

On  the  1th  day  of  May,  1850,  Colonel  Stevens  was  married 
at  Kockford,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Frances  Helen  Miller,  daughter 
of  Abner  Miller,  of  Westmoreland,  Oneida  county.  New  Y'ork. 
Mrs.  Stevens'  parents  were  from  New  England,  of  Puritan 
ancestors.  Her  mother,  before  marriage,  was  Sallie  Lyman, 
of  the  Lyman  Beecher  branch.  Her  grandfather  and  the 
grandmother  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher  were  brother  and  sister. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevens  have  had  six  children.  Mary  Elizabeth, 
the  first  white  child  l)orn  in  Minneapolis,  died  in  her  seven- 
teenth year.  Catharine  Duane,  their  second  child,  is  the  wife 
of  Philip  B.  Winston,  a  native  of  Virginia,  now.a  wealthy  and 
prominent  citizen  of  Minneapolis.  Sarah,  the  third  child, 
died  when  a  j'oung  lady.  Gardner,  their  only  son  and  fourth 
child,  is  a  citizen  of  Minneapolis.  Orma,  the  fifth  child,  is  the 
wife  of  W.  L.  Peck  of  Minneapolis,  a  railroad  contractor  with 
Winston  Brothers.  Frances  Helen,  the  youngest  daughter, 
is  at  home  in  Minneapolis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevens  have 
numerous  relatives  in  Minnesota,  and  relations  in  other  states 
occupying  positions  of  prominence. 


404  MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS, 

Colonel  Stevens  was  a  member  of  the  first  Minnesota  house 
of  representatives,  of  the  second  state  senate,  of  the  fourth 
legislature,  and  of  the  legislature  of  1876.  He  has  been  brig- 
adier-general of  the  state  militia,  and  held  many  other  civil 
and  military  offices,  as  will  appear  by  extracts  given  from  let- 
ters of  his  correspondents.  Letters  received  by  him  for  nearly 
half  a  century  have  been  preserved  almost  entire,  and  number 
thousands.  Many  of  them  are  of  the  most  confidential  char- 
acter. Extracts  from  such  only  as  might  seem  to  be  given 
with  propriety  are  here  presented  as  interesting  reminiscences 
of  the  times  in  which  they  were  M^ritten,  and  as  illustrative  of 
the  estimation  in  which  Colonel  Stevens  was  held  : 

LETTER  FROM  HORACE  GREELEY. 

Office  of  the  Tribune,  New  York,  August  16,  1863. 

My  Dear  Sir  :  It  is  now  some  two  years  and  a  half  since  I 
accepted  an  invitation  to  visit  Minnesota  and  speak  to  her 
farmers  at  her  State  Agricultural  Fair — an  invitation  which 
gave  me  pleasure  in  the  reception,  and  still  more  in  the  antic- 
ipation of  its  fulfillment.  I  am  still  anxious  that  my  life  and 
the  patience  of  my  friends  in  Minnesota  may  both  hold  out 
until  I  can  be  permitted  to  fulfil]  that  engagement. 

But  those  I  (with  all  respect  to  others)  most  wish  to  meet 
when  I  shall  visit  your  state  are  to-day  in  the  National  armies, 
braving  exposure,  fatigue,  privation  and  death  for  the  life  of 
their  country.  I  begin  to  grow  old.  I  shall  probably  never 
traverse  your  state  but  this  once  :  and  I  want  to  be  at  leisure 
to  do  it  with  some  deliberation.  But  still  more  do  I  wish  to 
meet  and  thank  the  noble  Minnesotians— no  matter  where 
they  were  born  or  what  have  been  their  affinities  or  antipa- 
thies to  me — who  have  consecrated  their  lives  to  their  coun- 
try's salvation.  You  probably  have  noted  that  I  have  not 
always  felt  so  sanguine  of  a  happy  issue  from  our  present 
troubles  as  many  if  not  most  other  loyal  Americans  have  done. 
I  have  too  often  feared  that  disloyalty  at  the  North  would 
complete  the  ruin  plotted  and  inaugurated  by  open  treason  at 
the  South.  It  is  possil:>le,  therefore,  that  I  enjoy  the  brighter 
l)roHpects  that  have  recently  opened  before  us  more  keenly 
than  those  who  receive  them  as  a  matter  of  course.  I  now 
feel  more  than  hopeful  that  the  Rebellion  will  be  put  down 
and  the  Union  preserved.     But  the  struggle  is  not  yet  over. 


MEMORANDA    AND    LKTTKKS.  405 

nor  is  the  result  absolutely  sure.  And,  so  loji^  us  there  is 
anything  to  l)e  done  oi-  to  l)e  feared  on  tiie  side  of  the  Union, 
it  Keenis  to  nie  that  my  ])ost,  whether  of  duty  or  dangei-,  is 
here,  more  especially  wiiile  the  greatest  remaining  and  now 
most  imminent  peril  of  the  National  cause  is  that  of  Northern 
defection  and  hostility  rather  than  of  Southern  treason.  Let 
me  once  more,  then,  l)eg  the  Fanners  of  Minnesota  to  have 
patience  with  me  and  to  excuse  my  absence  from  their  Fair 
this  Autunin,  in  the  sanguine  hope  that  the  next  Summer's 
sini  will  smile  upon  our  country  reunited,  peaceful  and  secure, 
and  that  I  may  visit  you  next  Autumn  in  the  hope  of  meeting 
many  of  the  heroes  of  our  great  struggle,  safely  returned 
from  the  bivouac  and  the  battle-field,  rejoicing  in  the  grateful 
appreciation  of  their  countrymen  and  in  the  proud  endear- 
ments of  their  happy  wives  and  childi'CMi. 

Yours  truly,  Horace  Greeley. 

John  H.  Stevens,  Esq.,  Sec.  State  Ag.  Soc,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 
State  of  Minnesota,  Executive  Department, 
St.  Paul,  September  21st,  1863. 
To  Whom  it  may  Concern  :  This  is  to  certify  that  pursuant 
to  the  provisions  of  the  law  of  this  State  to  enable  citizens 
engaged  in  the  military  and  naval  service  of  the  United  States 
to  vote  in  their  several  election  districts,  John  H.  Stevens,  the 
bearer  hereof,  has  been  duly  appointed  and  qualified  as  one  of 
the  Commissioners   duly  ai)pointed  to  visit  and  receive  the 
votes  of  such  of  the  soldiers  of  Minnesota  as  are  in  the  South- 
ern and  Western  states  lying  west  of  the  western  line  of  the 
States  of  Virginia  and  North  and  South  Carolina. 

It  is  earnestly  desired  that  the  military  authorities  will 
respect  Mr.  Stevens  as  such  Commissioner,  and  allow  him 
free  access  to  the  soldiers  of  this  state  for  the  purpose  desig- 
nated. In  tes*!imony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  caused  the  Great  Seal  of  the  State  to  be  affixed  the  day 
and  year  aforesaid.  Henry ^  A.  Swift. 

[Seal.  ]     By  the  Governor  :  D.  Blakely,  Sec.  of  State. 

IN    RELATION    TO   THE    INDIAN    WAR. 

Governor  Alex.  Ramsey  writes,  Sept.  2,  18(52  :  "  My  dear 
"  Col. — I  am  pleased  to  learn  that  by  your  energetic  measures 
"  quiet  has  l)een  restored  to  the  country  about  Glencoe.  I 
"  wish  Captain  Strout  to  remain  in  the  eastern  counties  where 


406  MEMORANDA   AND   LETTERS. 

"  lie  now  is  until  further  orders.  Our  forces  have  relieved 
''  Ridgley,  and  on  Sunday  Col.  Sibley  with  a  jaortion  of  his 
"command,  moved  towards  the  Lower  Agency.  The  Chip- 
"  pewas  are  quiet,  and  we  are  sending  relief  to  Abercrombie, 
"  so  I  hope  in  a  short  time  we  will  return  to  a  quiet  condition. 
"  But  the  Sioux  must  leave  the  state." 

Senator  Henry  M.  Eice  writes  Oct.  12,  1862  :  "Dear  Col.: 
What's  in  the  wind  ?  Are  the  Indians  again  to  be  placed 
upon  their  reservations,  and  their  crimes  go  unavenged  ? 
God  forbid.  Who  can  care  for  Minnesota,  or  who  can  sym- 
pathize with  those  who  have  suffered  worse  than  death,  and 
the  relations  of  the  dead,  that  will  for  a  moment  think  of 
keeping  those  fiends  within  our  state  ?  The  people  of  your 
county  have  all  at  stake.  You  can  help  them,  and  I  know 
will.     My  all,  life  itself,  will  be  given  to  save  Minnesota." 

Governor  Stephen  Miller  writes,  June  16,  1863  :  "  My  dear 
Sir — I  have  strong  hopes  that  the  days  of  panic  have  compar- 
atively passed,  and  that  the  good  citizens  upon  the  frontier 
will,  like  our  old  ancestors  in  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Kentucky, 
and  other  states,  pitch  in  on  their  own  hook,  and  scalp  every 
hostile  Sioux  that  ])y  any  possibility  passes  the  military  line. 
So  far  as  I  can  learn  only  about  eighteen  hostile  Sioux,  all 
told,  have  visited  the  state  this  spring,  and  yet  we  learn  that 
grown  up  men  talk  of  leaving  the  state.  Let  us,  my  good 
friend,  stand  our  ground  at  all  hazards,  and  infuse  such  a 
spirit  of  gallantry  in  our  good  citizens  as  will  make  our  soil 
the  tomb  of  every  redskinned  demon  that  dares  to  approach 
it.  The  military  will  be  urged  by  every  possible  considera- 
tion to  perform  their  whole  duty." 

On  the  25tli  of  the  same  month,  Governor  Miller  writes  : 
"  I  know  that  in  e"\'erything  that  tends  to  the  promotion  of  the 
great  object  in  view  I  may  rely  upon  the  coope»ation  of  your- 
self and  a  number  of  other  worthies  upon  the  frontier.  In- 
cluding Abercrombie,  I  have  but  two  thousand  troops,  all  told, 
with  whi(?h  to  protect  four  hundred  miles  of  frontier.  But 
with  the  aid  of  yourself,  and  with  other  good  citizens,  who 
greet  me  with  kindly  words,  though  they  do  not  in  all  things 
agree  with  me,  I  trust  that  reason  will  yet  prevail.  Help  me, 
I  })eg  of  you,  to  get  our  good  citizens  inspired  with  the  hero- 
ism which  distinguished  the  early  pioneers  of  the  Northwest. 


MEMORANDA   AND    LETTEllS.  407 

As  a  general  rule  they  did  their  own  fighting  ;  assistance  by 
government  troops  was  the  exception .  I  would  not,  if  I  could, 
place  so  heavy  a  Ijurthen  upon  our  frontier  now  ;  but  is  it  too 
much  to  ask  them  to  let  us  throw  our  strength  upon  the  fron- 
tier line  ;  while  they  keep  themselves  ready  to  act  as  a  reserve 
in  case  of  an  emergency  ?  It  other  words,  while  they  trust 
in  God  and  the  soldiers,  can  we  not  persuade  them  to  keep 
their  arms  convenient,  and  '  their  powder  dry'  ?  But  let  the 
red  demons  once  know  that  soldiers  and  citizens  alike  have 
scouted  panics,  and  sworn  death  to  every  savage  invader,  and 
my  life  for  it,  they  will  very  soon  let  us  alone.  I  am  using 
every  effort  to  establish  the  line  and  to  make  it  efficient.  I 
am  terribly  in  earnest.  I  am  applied  to  for  hundreds  of  troops 
daily,  from  St.  Croix  via  Lake  Superior,  Crow  Wing,  Otter 
Tail,  &c.,  clear  to  the  Iowa  line  and  must  needs  reply  to  all, 
but  certainly  to  none  more  cheerfully  than  yourself." 

On  the  22d  of  July,  1863,  Governor  Miller  writes,  dating 
from  "  Headcpiarters  of  the  Forces  in  Garrison,  District  of 
Minnesota,  Dejjartment  of  the  Northwest.  St.  Paul,  Minn. 
My  Dear  Col. :  Your  kind  communication  of  a  few  days  since 
found  me  greatly  afflicted  by  the  intelligence  that  my  eldest 
son,  a  first  lieutenant  in  the  Seventh  U.  S.  Infantry,  had  fallen 
at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  It  is  a  sad,  sad  l)low  ;  but  he 
died  at  his  post ;  and  I  bless  his  memory.  Better  that  my 
entire  family  should  perish  than  one  star  be  erased  from  the 
old  Flag. 

"  I  am  gratified  to  learn  that  you  are  likely  to  remain  in  the 
infected  district  for  a  time.  I  always  feel  much  easier  when 
you  are  there.  Your  pai)er  too,  I  am  liai:)py  to  see,  is  distrib- 
uting the  best  possible  counsel  to  our  panic-stricken  citizens  ; 
and  will,  I  hope,  bring  them  to  see  that  a  dozen  or  twenty 
Indians  are  not  likely  to  depopulate  a  half-dozen  counties  if 
we  do  our  duty. 

"  If  the  Democratic  organization  know  their  duty  and  con- 
sult their  interests,  and  can  elect  any  candidate,  they  will  give 
you  the  gubernatorial  nomination  whether  yoii  want  it  or  not. 
I  am  sorry  to  say  that  your  party,  as  well  as  another  I  could 
name,  too  often  reserves  its  nominations  for  '  pigmies,'  instead 
of  conferring  them  upon  its  best  men.     Ever  your  friend, 

S.  Miller. 


408  MEMOllANDA    AND    LETTEllS. 

IN   THE   TREASURY   DEPARTMENT. 

Washington,  May  17th,  1864. 

My  dear  Col. :  Whenever  a  vacancy  in  any  place  at  Natchez 
occurs,  and  for  which  you  desire  to  be  a  candidate,  send  me 
an  application  for  the  place  and  I  will  at  once  present  it. 

As  Mr.  Chase  has  a  general  agent  for  the  business  of  his 
department  in  the  southwest,  it  would  be  well  to  have  his 
endorsement  of  the  application.     Very  truly  yours,  &c., 

Alex.  Ramsey. 
Col.  J.  H.  Stevens,  Natchez,  Miss. 

From  the  Room  of  Claims  Commission,  Department  of  the 
Gulf,  New  Orleans,  La.,  May  15,  1865,  Brigadier-General 
M.  Brayman  reports  :  "  Hon.  John  H.  Stevens  of  Minnesota 
was,  for  several  months  during  my  command  at  Natchez, 
Miss.,  an  officer  of  the  Treasury  Department  at  that  place. 

"  He  came,  a  stranger,  highly  recommended  by  men  dis- 
tinguished in  civil  and  military  life.  I  found  him  an  upright, 
honorable  and  true  man,  and  worthy  my  highest  respect  and 
confidence. 

"  So  far  as  I  know,  ( and  I  had  good  means  of  knowing, ) 
his  official  duties  were  performed  intelligently,  honestly,  and 
for  the  good  of  the  service,  and  when  he  took  responsibilities 
or  used  discretionary  powers,  it  was  done  wisely,  and  with  few 
mistakes. 

"  In  my  efforts  to  correct  the  gross  iniquities  which  disgraced 
the  public  service  at  Natchez,  and  in  the  laborious  investiga- 
tions made  under  my  direction,  I  profited  much  by  the  wise 
counsel  and  ready  assistance  afforded  by  Mr.  Stevens." 

LETTERS    FROM    GOVERNOR    SIBLEY. 

"Mendota,  Feb.  22,  1862.— Hon.  John  H.  Stevens,  H.  of  R., 
St.  Paul  :  My  dear  Sir — There  is  a  poor  widow  woman  named 
Ellen  Langford,  for  whose  relief  a  bill  was  passed  in  '58  or 
'59,  by  the  legislature,  which  gave  her  the  preference  in  the 
purchase  of  the  160  acres  on  the  school  lands  where  she  lived 
and  still  lives.  A  bill  for  the  repeal  of  that  act  was  intro- 
duced into  the  senate  and  passed  while  the  woman  was  sick  in 
bed,  and  she  knew  nothing  of  it,  until  within  the  last  week. 
She  is  in  great  distress  about  it,  and  as  the  grant  was  made  to 
her  in  good  faith  after  the  case  had  been  thoroughly  examined 
upon  its  merits,  I  trust  the  house  will  not  concur  in  the  repeal. 


MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS.  409 

It  is  e\adent  there  has  been  some  underhanded  move  against 
her,  and  I  hope  you  will  feel  it  to  be  your  duty  to  defend  her 
rights,  with  your  vote  and  influence,  I  hope  soon  to  sec  you 
and  talk  over  matters  in  general." 

St.  Paul,  Feb.  12,  1876. 

My  dear  Colonel  :  Mr.  Horace  Thomi)Son  and  myself  were 
at  the  capitol  yesterday,  intending  to  call  on  you,  but  the  house 
had  adjourned  before  we  could  do  so.  Our  object  was  to  con- 
sult with  you  in  relation  to  a  joint  resolution  drawn  by  us,  and 
now  in  the  hands  of  Senator  Wilkinson,  providing  for  the 
formation  of  a  commission  of  thirteen  of  the  most  prominent 
and  reliable  men  in  the  state,  geographically  distributed,  who 
shall  have  power  to  send  for  persons  and  papers,  and  examine 
witnesses  under  oath,  and  report  to  the  next  legislature  their 
facts  and  conclusions  as  to  the  legal  and  equitable  liabilities 
of  the  state  in  connection  with  the  state  railroad  bonds.  Every 
fair-minded  man  must  feel  the  necessity  in  this  centennial 
year  of  something  being  done  to  show  to  the  outside  world 
that  Minnesota  intends  to  ascertain  what  her  status  is,  so  far 
as  those  bonds  are  concerned,  with  a  view  to  proper  action  in 
the  premises.  Minnesota  is  now  suffering  financially,  as  well 
as  in  character,  and  you  will  doubtless  feel  as  we  do,  that  the 
time  has  arrived  for  the  state  to  take  up  this  question  and 
dispose  of  it  upon  equitable  and  honorable  terms,  and  thus 
free  herself  of  the  stain  which  rests  upon  her.  You  can  effect 
much  in  procuring  the  passage  of  the  joint  resolution  through 
the  house.  You  and  I  feel  alike  that  the  question  should  bo 
adjusted  on  an  honorable  basis,  and  I  hope  that  will  be  done 
during  my  lifetime.     Your  old  friend.  H.  H.  Sibley. 

St.  Paul,  Nov.  10th,  1884. 

My  dear  old  friend  :  I  feel  deeply  grateful  to  yourself,  and 
the  many  friends  I  am  fortunate  enough  to  have  among  the 
old  settlers  of  Hennepin  county,  for  the  kind  and  flattering 
greeting  I  have  received  from  them,  through  you,  on  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  my  first  advent  to  what  is  now  a  great 
and  prosperous  state. 

The  occasion  was,  nevertheless,  somewhat  tinged  with  mel- 
ancholy, when  my  mind  reverted  to  the  long  list  of  those  who 
with  us  had  "borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day,"  but  had 
been  "  gathered  to  their  fathers,"  leaving  but  a  remnant  of 


410  MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS. 

their  co-laborers   to   survive   them.     God  grant  to  you  all  a 
lengthened  term  of  years,  and  a  happy  end. 

Please  give  my  warm  regards  to  all  the  members  of  your 
honored  Association,  and  believe  me  as  ever,  yours  sincerely. 

H.  H.  Sibley. 

LETTERS   PROM   H.    M.    RICE. 

Senator  H.  M.  Bice,  under  date  of  Washington,  Feb.  4th, 
1855,  writes  :  "  My  Dear  Sir :  Ere  this  reaches  you,  you  will 
have  heard  of  the  passage  of  the  Reserve  Bill  through  the 
House,  and  ere  to-morrow  night  I  hope  it  will  pass  the  Senate. 
Don't  Ames  feel  good  !  I  hope  you  will  all  feel  relieved. 
You  do  not  know  how  much  I  have  to  do.  The  only  reward 
I  hope  for  is  that  my  work  will  produce  a  good  yield  of  rich 
fruit.  The  doctor  has  worked  well,  and  I  like  him  much. 
Soon  as  the  Beserve  Bill  becomes  a  law  I  will  start  for  home." 

"  Washington,  April  1st,  1858. — Steele  is  here,  but  the  death 
of  one  of  his  children,  and  the  present  illness  of  his  entire 
family,  has  necessarily  made  him  apparently  neglectful  of  his 
friends.  I  intend  to  support  the  Administration,  believing 
that  in  so  doing  I  am  protecting  the  best  interests  of  our  glo- 
riour  state,  upon  which  nature  has  lavished  so  much  that  is 
good.  In  regard  to  the  loan  bill  :  I  am  a  warm  advocate  of 
its  ratification  by  the  people.  Upon  its  adoption  conse- 
quences of  the  highest  moment  to  the  state  depend.  We 
must  keep  pace  with  the  progress  of  other  portions  of  the 
country.  That  a  network  of  railroads  in  our  state  is  impera- 
tively demanded,  no  one  can  deny.  And  I  believe  the  only 
feasible  and  sure  method  of  accomplishing  this  result  is  the 
one  adopted  by  the  legislature.  I  trust  the  amendment  will 
be  adopted  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote." 

"  Washington,  April  16,  1858.— Steele  left  here  to-day  for 
New  York.  He  is  right  all  the  time.  We  do  not  admit  a 
constitution — we  admit  a  state.  The  people  can,  after  admis- 
sion, fix  up  their  own  matters,  as  they  please.  How  ridiculous 
this  eternal  quarrel  about  a  few  negroes,  and  at  the  expense 
of  twenty-five  millions  of  white  people." 

"  Washington,  April  24th,  I860.— The  accounts  from  Pike's 
Peak  are  conflicting.  Were  you  a  single  man,  I  might  advise 
you  to  go  there,  but  when  I  think  of  your  wife  and  little  ones 
that  must  be  left  behind,  I  cannot  do  it.     You  ought  to  have 


MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS.  411 

ftii  appointment  in  onv  state  where  you  liave  done  such  good 
Borvice.  I  hope  the  time  may  come  when  you  will  be  r<'- 
warded  for  your  labors,  not  only  for  the  party  and  your  friends, 
but  for  Horvices  rendered  the  new  comers." 

"St.  Paul,  October  3d,  I860.— I  went  to  the  Fair  for  the 
purpose  of  meetin/:^  you,  but  you  liad  left.  I  did  wish  to  have 
a  long  talk  with  you.  You  are  one  of  the  old  guard  you  who 
have  sacrificed  much  for  the  good  of  Minnesota.  I  did  wish 
to  see  you  to  ascertain  what  has  caused  a  separation  between 
us.  My  conscience  tells  me  that  I  am  right.  I  know  that  I 
am  in  the  minority — but  were  I  alone,  and  yet  sustained  by 
conscience,  I  would  fight  to  the  last.  Political  ties  are  strong 
but  personal  ones  are  stronger.  A  thousand  new-comers  may^ 
disagree  with  me,  and  not  a  sleepless  night  will  I  psss — but 
when  one  of  the  old  guard  says  I  am  wrong,  I  cannot  sleep. 
Now,  my  friend,  if  your  heart  says  that  Douglas  is  right,  that 
he  has  been  consistent,  continue  to  support  him.  I  think 
Breckinridge  is  right — I  shall  support  him.  This  is  a  private 
letter,  written  to  a  friend,  in  a  friendly  spirit.  I  say  to  you 
that  a  Douglas  organization  cannot  be  kept  up  ninety  days. 
He  has  gone  — he  is  working  with  the  South  Americans — and 
they  cannot  stand  the  light  of  day.  Douglas  now  occupies  the 
sixth  position  upon  the  subject  of  Slavery.  Douglas  is  out  of 
the  question,  and  why  waste  powder  upon  him.  Lincoln  I  do 
not  believe  can  be  elected.  Therefore  let  us  keep  our  forces 
together.     God  bless  you." 

"St.  Paul,  April  9,  1876. — Yours  of  the  7th  came  yesterday. 
Its  tone  struck  a  chord  that  has  been  dormant  a  long  time. 
By  it  I  can  see  that  in  you  the  milk  of  human  kindness  is  as 
fresh  and  copious  as  in  times  long  past.  I  thank  you  for  it, 
and  will  try  and  visit  your  place  this  week.     Henry  M.  Bice." 

FROM   HON.    IGNATIUS   DONNELLY. 

"Nininger,  Minn.,  August  8th,  1859.— I  perfectly  agree 
with  you,  that  politics  should  not  make  us  lose  sight  of  our 
material  interests.  Honor  and  wealth  are  two  very  distinct 
things,  and  one  cannot  supply  the  want  of  the  other. 

"  Is  there  \\p  way  of  trading  lots  in  Nininger,  or  Louisville, 
for  five  hundred  or  one  thousand  acres  of  land,  timber,  lake, 
etc.,  near  Glencoe  ?  I  could  throw  in  five  hundred  dollars  in 
money.     If  so,  I  would  improve  the  whole  tract,  and  move  on 


412  MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS. 

to  it,  and.  then  set  myself  to  work  to  advance  the  interests  of 
McLeod  county  with  all  my  strength  and  will.  I  want  to  get 
a  good  big  farm.  We  could  lay  our  heads  together  and  either 
build  a  tram  railroad  from  Carver  or  a  plank  road.  That 
thirty  miles  of  timber  is  the  curse  of  McLeod  county  at 
present.  It  takes  considerable  hardihood  to  travel  through 
it  twice.  You  will  never  advance  rapidly  until  you  have  a 
good  road. 

"  By  all  means  go  into  the  legislature.  I  think  there  is  a 
future  of  prosperity  before  both  of  us  ;  there  are  new  towns 
to  be  laid  out,  and  new  counties  to  be  settled. 

"  A  poverty-stricken  politician  is  one  of  the  most  miserable 
objects  alive  ;  and  it  is  the  duty  of  every  sensible  man,  by  all 
means  to  place  himself  beyond  the  reach  of  want.  There  is 
no  degree  of  intellect  that  can  resist  the  deadening  influence 
of  an  empty  pocket." 

"  Nininger,  Dec.  20,  1873. — If  you  had  not  made  that 
unfortunate  protection  speech  we  could  have  nominated  you 
for  Governor  and  have  elected  you.  But  there  is  a  future  in 
which  we  can  all  correct  our  mistakes. 

"  Be  assured  that  although  compelled  to  opposed  you  then, 
it  was  on  no  personal  ground,  and  I  shall  seize  the  first 
opportunity  to  show  you  how  sincerely  I  am  your  friend. 

Ignatius  Donnelly, 
an  early  boom — with  a  protest — from  franklin  steele. 

"  Fort  Snelling,  August  20th,  1854. — Dear  Stevens  :  I  have 
received  your  two  letters,  and  write  this  with  the  hope  that  it 
may  reach  you  in  Galena.  We  have  had  our  own  troubles 
since  you  left,  with  the  people  claiming  to  have  purchased  lots 
from  you,  to  the  extent  of  about  half  of  all  that  is  valuable. 
Mr.  Sampson  returned  from  St.  Paul  the  day  that  you  left, 
and  told  everybody  that  you  had  authorized  him  to  say  that 
any  one  could  go  and  select  a  lot  where  they  pleased  at  one 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  lot.  The  consequence  was  that 
hfilf  the  town  was  claimed,  and  they  began  to  haul  on  the 
lumber  to  Ijuild.  Northrup  came  down  forme  when,  with  the 
assistance  of  Mr.  Lewis  and  Mr.  Case,  most  of  them  were 
induced  to  desist  until  you  should  return.  Some  of  them, 
having  deeds  from  you,  remained.  Now  it  is  absolutely  nec- 
essary that  we  should  refuse  to  sell  or  permit  a  single  indi 


MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS.  413 

vidual  to  come  on  to  the  premises  before  the  day  of  sale. 
Upon  your  return  you  will  be  beset  on  all  hands,  but  you 
must  make  but  one  rule  to  all,  to  refuse  to  do  a  tiling  before 
you  get  a  title.  In  this  way  you  will  escajie  a  world  of  troul^le. 
I  have  taken  the  advice  of  our  mutual  friends.  Case  and  Ames, 
and  have  acted  as  your  agent  in  the  affair." 

"Fort  Siielling,  Sept.  22d,  1854 -Dear  Stevens:  Now  for 
your  own  sake  and  mine,  remember  our  arrangement  and  do 
not  give  away  all  you  have  or  expect  to  get.  I  may  be  doing 
you  an  injustice  ;  if  so,  what  I  now  write  will  go  for  nothing. 
Now  I  implore  you  not  to  promise  a  single  lot  before  a  title 
accrues.  Your  friend,  Franklin  Steele." 

"Fort  Snelling,  Dec.  11,  1859.— Dear  Col.:  I  shall  ever 
cherish  the  most  grateful  feeling  toward  you  and  our  mutual 
friends  Cowan  and  Adams,  for  honest  effort  to  promote  my 
interest,  although  not  successful.  If  all  who  have  made  pro- 
fessions of  friendship  had  acted  as  you  have  done,  I  might 
have  been  gratified  to  the  full  extent  of  my  ambition,  and  have 
been  in  a  position  to  help  my  friends  ;  but  I  have  found  that 
those  I  have  served  most  faithfully  have  been  the  first  to 
desert  me  when  I  required  their  assistance.  I  will  leave  for 
the  East  immediately  and  obtain  all  the  information  possible 
in  regard  to  Pike's  Peak,  and  other  places  now  resorted  to  for 
recuperation.  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  a  very  large  emigra- 
tion will  set  in  toward  Minnesota  in  the  spring,  and  that 
affairs  will  improve.  If  I  did  not  entertain  this  belief  I  should 
take  my  final  departure  immediately,  for  I  would  not  go 
through  for  another  year  what  I  have  the  past  for  any  con- 
sideration. If  I  can  find  any  place  in  which  you  can  do  better 
than  at  home  upon  your  farm,  I  will  write  you.  Your  old 
and  faithful  friend,  Franklin  Steele." 

fraternal  letters  from  dr.  ALFRED  E.  AMES. 

Dr.  Alfred  E.  Ames  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  prom- 
inent pioneers  of  Minneapolis.  From  notes  made  at  the  request 
of  his  children,  it  appears  that  he  was  a  native  of  Vermont. 
His  grandfather  Ames  had  fourteen  children,  his  father  eight, 
and  the  doctor  himself  seven.  In  youth  he  struggled  for  an 
education,  taught  school,  studied  medicine,  and  worked  inces- 
santly. In  boyhood,  on  his  way  from  Vermont  to  Ohio,  by 
the  Erie  Canal,  at   Schenectady  he  first  saw  a  railroad  train. 


414  MEMORANDA  AND   LETTERS. 

"A  rude  engine,  with  three  cars  attached,  made  several  efforts 
"  to  start,  when  bystanders  pushed,  and  off  it  went."  He  rode 
from  Detroit  to  Chicago  in  a  stage.  "  Chicago  then  had  3,000 
"inhabitants  of  half  breeds  and  all  others."  From  Chicago 
he  followed  an  Indian  trail  sixty-five  miles  northwest  to  Boone 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  made  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  and  built  a  log  house  ;  passing  through  severe 
trials,  in  relation  to  which  he  says  "there  is  nothing  so  good 
"  for  such  dark  days  as  a  firm  resolution — a  sure  determination 
"  and  reliance  upon  God."  Putting  a  pack  on  his  back,  he 
"  took  an  Indian  trail  and  went  to  Vandalia,  then  the  seat  of 
"government.  Thanks  to  Heaven,"  he  writes,  "  I  soon  found 
"  employment.  Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  and  Captain  James 
"  Craig  interceded  and  introduced  me  to  Alex.  B.  Field,  who 
"  was  then  secretary  of  state,  who  employed  me  as  his  deputy, 
"and Governor  Thomas  Carlin  made  me  his  private  secretary." 
He  afterwards  went  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  was  employed 
by  Stephen  A.  Douglas  as  his  deputy  secretary  of  state.  About 
this  time  he  was  "  raised  to  the  Sublime  degree  of  Masonry," 
and  also  gave  medical  lectures.  He  was  elected  first  to  the 
house  and  then  to  the  senate  of  Illinois.  In  1851  he  came  to 
Minneapolis,  and  in  1852  brought  his  family  here.  He  records 
that  "  Minneapolis  was  then  called  and  known  as  All  Saints." 
He  was  present  at  the  organization  of  Hennepin  county,  and 
was  the  first  physician  in  Minneapolis.  In  1854,  his  journal 
says,  "  an  effort  was  made  to  sell  the  Reserve  to  the  highest 
"  bidder,  but  the  plats  did  not  arrive  in  time  to  make  the  sale. 
"  By  the  request  of  friends  I  went  to  Washington,  took  an 
"  appeal  from  the  Commissioner  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Inte- 
"  rior,  which  stayed  proceedings  until  the  meeting  of  Congress, 
"when  a  law  was  passed  giving  the  settlers  a  preemption." 
Dr.  Ames  was  a  member  of  the  Minnesota  Constitutional  Con- 
vention. During  the  civil  war,  while  his  sons  were  enlisting, 
he  recorded  his  "  hope  and  trust  that  God  would  overrule  the 
"  storm  and  again  bring  our  fair  land  to  rest  and  our  people  to 
"  peace  and  happiness."  He  died  in  1874.  Some  character- 
istic letters  of  his  are  given  : 

Washington,  Jan.  5,  1855. — Dear  Col. :  To-day  Eice  and 
myself  will  go  all  around  and  see  how  the  boys  feel.  Be 
assured  that  it  is  up  hill  work.     My  communications  are  not 


MEMORANDA    AND    LETTEltS.  415 

for  the  public  eye.  Henceforth  let  me  only  be  known  in 
quiet  life,  I  huve  already  met  with  too  many  besetments  on 
life's  journey.  Illy  am  I  prepared  for  vexations  and  troul^les. 
At  my  period  of  life,  I  am  weary,  and  rest  would  not  be  dis- 
tressing to  my  thoughts.  Speak  not  of  me  to  any  but  my 
friends.  To  my  friends  I  am  indebted  for  what  life  is  to  me. 
Washington,  Jan.  7,  1855. — The  chiefs  of  the  AV'innebago 
tribes  and  the  upper  Chippewa  chiefs  have  been  ordered  on 
here  to  treat  with  them.  So  you  see  there  will  soon  be  more 
public  land  in  Minnesota  for  settlement  and  cultivation.  We 
are  going  at  a  snail's  pace.  I  have  been  here  a  week  this 
evening.  The  way  looks  dark  and  doubtful.  Keep  shady. 
Don't  let  our  enemies  know  what  our  thoughts  are.  I  hope 
Steele  and  Case  will  be  here  this  week.  Steele's  procrastina- 
tion endangers  our  equities.  When  Case,  Steele  and  Smith 
get  here  we  will  do  something  or  die. 

Colonel,  tell  our  enemies  that  the  Reserve  will  be  sold  under 
the  direction  of  the  War  Department.  Tell  them  anything 
but  the  facts.  But  stick  to  what  you  tell  them.  Fraternally. 
Washington,  Jan.  14. — Dear  Col. :  To-day  has  been  a  lone- 
some day  to  me.  The  mind  has  viewed  the  panorama  of  my 
life  and  prognosticated  the  future.  Nothing  in  the  past  very 
interesting  or  useful  ;  in  the  future  much  darkness  and  con- 
fusion, judging  from  the  manifestations.  Your  expectations 
of  me  are  too  high.  I  am  but  a  feeble  man.  However,  I  am 
always  ready  to  labor  for  the  best  interests  of  my  friends  and 
Minnesota.  I  cannot  yet  make  a  favorable  report  to  you. 
During  the  week  there  will  be  something  done,  but  I  fear  and 
tremble  for  the  result.  Our  hopes  are  very  low.  For  God's 
sake  and  our  interests,  don't  drop  a  word  that  I  write  to  you  ; 
it  would  be  hazardous.  Our  enemies  have  injured  us  r"ch, 
and  stand  ready  at  their  posts  to  carryforward  their  ..ael 
work.  So  soon  as  there  is  anything  tiual  had  as  to  our 
interests  you  shall  be  advised.     Your  brother. 

Washington,  Jan.  21. — My  dear  Col. :  This  is  the  tenth  let- 
ter I  have  written  to  you.  Why  I  write,  can't  say,  only  that 
you  are  often  in  my  mind  ;  also  my  regard  for  you  and  the 
recollection  of  the  many  kindnesses  that  have  been  bestowed 
upon  me  by  you  and  yours  makes  the  impression  and  demands 
a  manifestation  of  recollection.     My  mission  here  has  not  yet 


416  MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERU. 

manifested  anything  good  for  us.  We  shall  make  big  efforts 
the  coming  week.  All  is  darkness  and  doubt  to  me.  Keep 
my  letters  from  the  public  eye.     Faithfully  and  fraternally. 

Washington,  Jan.  31,  1855. — My  dear  Brother  and  Com.: 
You  speak  of  an  excitement — political,  postoffice,  &c.  Little 
do  I  care  for  such  storms  ;  give  me  a  title  to  my  claim,  and 
everything  else  may  go.  Your  attachments  to  your  party — 
Whig — is  known  to  me.  Go  it.  I  will  not  quarrel  with  you 
about  that.  Your  labors  in  grand  lodge  will,  no  doubt,  be 
approved  by  the  overseer's  square.  As  yet  I  know  nothing  of 
affairs  in  the  Minnesota  legislature — don't  care  to  know. 

You  say  that  I  must  not  show  my  head  there  again,  if  I 
fail  in  obtaining  a  law  for  the  security  of  the  settlers  on 
the  Reserve.  Colonel,  you  are  too  stringent  on  me.  You 
know  very  well  that  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  secure  our  equities 
and  those  of  our  good  neighbors.  It  is  very  little  that  an 
outsider  can  do.  If  nothing  else,  to  promote  my  own  interest 
would  make  me  work.  We  have  a  bill  in  committee  of  the 
whole  house  ;  if  it  passes  it  will  go  to  the  senate  ;  it  will 
secure  all  the  settlers  on  the  Reserve  in  their  equities. 

Washington,  Feb.  28th,  1855.— Col.  Stevens  :  The  Reserve 
bill  passed  this  morning  without  amendment.  We  are  safe. 
All  is  well.  Rejoice  !  We  have  great  rejoicing  here  to-day. 
Mr.  Rice  has  worked  hard  for  us — don't  forget  him.  Our 
people  are  under  great  obligations  to  him.  A.  E.  Ames. 

Minneapolis,  M.  T.,  March  11,  1857.— We  are  glad  to  hear 
from  you  and  your  dear  family.  May  our  God  ever  bless 
you  and  yours  at  the  "  Monticello"  of  your  soul,  alias  the 
"  Home  farm"  of  comfort  and  happiness.  I  have  nothing  to 
communicate  that  will  be  interesting,  excepting  the  glorious 
intelligence,  the  passage  of  the  Railroad  bill.  It  passed  Con- 
gress on  the  3d  inst.  A  new  day  has  dawned  on  this  fair  land. 
The  most  sanguine  expectations  of  the  sons  of  Minnesota  will 
be  more  than  realized.  Our  fair  maiden  will  soon  put  on  her 
attire  of  sister.  Her  chains  are  already  being  designed.  She 
will  be  the  fairest  of  the  family.  Blessed  be  God,  she  has 
not  a  blemish,  and  will  never  grow  old.  How  often  we  have 
talked  over  her  graces  and  future  wealth.  Beautiful  land- 
scapes, and  running,  laughing  waters.  How  inviting.  "  Say 
on,  brother !"     Fraternally.  A.  E.  Ames. 


MEMORANDA   AND   LETTERS.  417 

FROM   JUDGE   MEEKER. 

Bradley  B.  Meeker  was  one  of  the  first  Federal  Judges  in 
Minnesota,  and  in  18-49  held  the  first  court  in  Hennepin  county 
in  the  old  government  mill  on  the  reservation  (now  Minneaj)- 
olis),  and  appointed  Franklin  Steele  foreman  of  the  grand 
jury.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  old  settlers'  associ- 
ation.    Here  is  a  letter  from  him  dated 

Terra  Haute,  Nov.  7th,  1857.— Col.  Stevens  :  Dear  Sir  —I 
intended  to  have  made  you  a  visit  passing  through  Clearwater 
and  Forest  City  to  Glencoe,  but  pressing  engagements  will 
make  my  absence  necessary.  I  congratulate  you  on  your 
election.  It  was  a  just  tribute  to  a  worthy,  warm-hearted 
old  pioneer  that  has  done  as  much  to  settle  Hennepin  as  any 
fifteen  men  that  can  be  found  within  her  borders.  You  are 
now  in  a  position  to  do  Minnesota  good  service,  and  I  know 
you  well  enough  to  know  that  you  will  do  all  in  your  power 
to  promote  her  best  interests.  Now  something  has  to  be  done, 
can  be  done,  and  must  be  done,  or  northern  Minnesota  will 
be  a  pauper  country  in  two  years.  I  have  thought  much 
about  the  matter,  and  have  at  last  fallen  upon  the  following 
relief  measures  : 

In  the  first  place,  I  want  you  to  pass  a  law  prohibiting  all 
our  courts  of  justice  rendering  any  judgments  for  debts  due 
by  contract  or  judgment  contracted  or  rendered  out  of  Min- 
nesota for  the  term  of  five  years  from  the  passage  of  such  law. 
Now  the  effect  of  such  a  legislative  act  would  be  this  :  all  the 
embarrassed  men  of  business,  whether  manufacturers,  mer- 
chants or  mechanics,  woidd  wend  their  way  with  their  fami- 
lies and  friends  to  Minnesota  in  the  spring,  where  they  could 
enjoy  legal  repose  from  the  clamors  of  their  creditors  until 
they  had  had  an  opportunity  to  establish  themselves  anew. 
This  step,  so  merciful  in  these  days  of  pecuniary  depression 
and  oppression,  would  revive  immigration  again  to  Minnesota, 
and  fill  it  with  enterprise  and  money.     Your  friend. 

FROM   A.    G.    CHATFIELD. 

Judge  Andrew  G.  Chatfield  was  appointed  associate  justice 
of  the  supreme  court  of  Minnesota  in  1853.  His  first  appear- 
ance in  a  judicial  capacity  in  Hennepin  county  was  at  a  spe- 
cial term  of  court  held  that  year  in  the  parlors  of  Col.  Stevens' 
house.     From  the  town  he  laid  out  and  named  he  writes  :    • 


418  MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS. 

Belle  Plaine,  Jan.  12th,  I860.— Col.  Stevens  :  Dear  Sir— 
While  I  was  in  Mankato,  a  few  days  ago,  Mr.  C.  L.  Taylor  of 
Shelbyville  called  on  me  and  requested  me  to  write  to  some 
member  of  the  legislature,  in  his  behalf,  which  I  promised  to 
do  ;  and  to  that  circumstance  you  must  charge  the  trouble 
that  this  letter  will  give  you. 

Mr.  Taylor  has  a  little  daughter  about  twelve  years  old  who 
is  a  deaf  mute.  He  says  she  is  very  bright  and  intelligent, 
and  spoke  with  much  feeling  of  his  inability  to  send  her 
abroad  to  be  educated.  He  is  poor.  Though  the  state  is 
deeply  embarrassed,  cannot  some  plan  be  devised  by  which 
the  incipient  or  preparatory  steps  towards  the  establishment 
of  an  institution  for  the  education  of  deaf  mutes  may  be  taken? 
Cannot  a  school,  even  on  a  limited  scale,  be  opened  ?  Such 
an  institution  the  state  must  have,  sooner  or  later,  and  this 
one  case  impresses  upon  the  legislature  the  necessity  of  com- 
mencing now,  if  any  plan  can  be  devised. 

I  write  to  you  because  I  know  you  are  always  ready  to  listen 
to  appeals  from  the  unfortunate,  and  that  if  there  are  any 
means  of  relief  within  your  reach,  relief  will  be  had. 

FROM    MRS.    E.    E.    CHATFIELD. 

Belle  Plaine,  Dec.  1875.— Col.  Stevens  :  My  dear  Sir— The 
only  light  which  has  dawned  above  the  thick  darkness  which 
has  surrounded  me,  since  my  dear  husband's  death,  has  ema- 
nated from  the  beautiful  tokens  of  respect  and  esteem  which 
his  friends  have  paid  to  his  memory  ;  and  foremost  among 
those,  I  place  your  beautiful  tribute  published  in  the  Press. 
From  my  sad  heart  I  thank  you  ;  and  at  this  festival  season 
beg  your  acceptance  of  the  accompanying  photograph,  as  a 
memento  of  your  friend,  and  an  acknowledgment  of  my  grati- 
tude to  you  for  your  fidelity  to  him.     I  am  truly  your  friend. 

JUDGE  ATWATER's  TESTIMONY  AS   TO  THE   HARD  TIMES   OF   '57. 

St.  Anthony,  Oct.  31,  1857.— Dear  Colonel  :  I  am  rejoiced 
that  you  are  elected.  With  you  there,  things  will  go  right. 
Such  old  wheel-horses  are  just  what  we  need  in  such  a  body. 

Martin  has  returned  dead  broke.  Instead  of  bringing  out 
more  money,  he  has  been  obliged  to  borrow  money  to  send 
there.  It  is  utterly  impossible  to  collect  a  dollar.  For  my 
own  part  I  have  entirely  suspended.  I  have  between  two  and 
three  thousand  dollars  now  due  on  the  last  payment  on  my 


MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS.  419 

house,  and  where  it  is  to  come  from  I  don't  know.  I  cannot 
get  money  enough  to  buy  provisions  for  my  family.  You  are 
a  lucky  dog  if  you  have  raised  enough  to  eat  to  get  you  through 
the  winter.  It  is  because  I  haAe  been  bo  harrassed  about 
money  matters  that  I  have  not  been  out  to  see  you. 

FROM   H.    T.    WELLES. 

Minneapolis,  April  30,  1860. — Dear  Colonel  :  I  thank  you 
very  kindly  and  am  grateful  for  the  interest  you  manifest  in 
Mr.  Steele  and  myself  in  the  sore  troubles  that  are  now  upon 
us.  Both  of  lis  would  be  glad  to  reciprocate  this  feeling  by 
something  more  substantial  than  words. 

No  man  can  be  named  in  this  state  whom  I  should  prefer 
to  you  for  representative  in  congress.  I  know  all  men  do  not 
want  that  position,  but  then  some  one  must  take  it,  although 
he  does  so  at  a  sacrifice.  If  you  can  make  up  your  mind  to 
run  for  the  nomination,  it  is  my  earnest  desire,  and  will  be 
Steele's,  that  you  should  do  so.     Most  truly  yours. 

February  1st,  1881. — Dear  Sir  :  Before  I  left  home,  the 
gentlemen  who  are  compiling  a  history  of  Hennepin  county 
called  for  my  subscription,  and  for  a  brief  notice.  I  do  not 
know  much  about  the  book,  but  so  far  as  any  notice  of  myself 
is  concerned,  I  propose  to  have  you  prepare  it.  In  fact  you 
ought  to  have  put  out  the  proposed  history  yourself,  and  under 
your  own  name.  No  stranger  can  do  that  work  as  well  as  you 
can.  Better  if  you  had  been  the  father  of  the  whole  of  it. 
You  will  do  me  a  favor  if  you  will  say  what  is  to  be  said  about 
me  exclusively. 

Hennepin  county  owes  as  much  to  you,  if  not  more  than 
to  any  other  man.  Y^ou  were  the  corner-stone  on  which  Mr. 
Steele's  fortune  was  built.  Y^ou  shaped  the  early  beginnings 
of  what  is  now  the  City  of  Minneapolis  ;  and  in  any  history  of 
the  county  you  ought  to  have  credit  accordingly.     Ever  yours. 

THE  FIRST  AND  MOST  NEEDY  OF  THE  OLD  SETTLERS. 

St.  Peter,  Nov.  7th,  1875.— Dear  Col. :  You  will  recollect 
our  old  friend,  John  Bush,  the  old  Indian  farmer  of  Red  Wing, 
and  the  oldest  white  settler  in  Minnesota — so  says  the  Atlas. 
As  you  keep  trace  of  all  the  early  ones,  you  are  probably 
aware  that  for  many  years  he  lived  on  the  road  between  here 
and  Fort  Ridgely,  at  Lafayette.  The  Indian  war  ruined  him 
financially,  and  after  living  on  his  place  two  or  three  years 


420  MEMOKANDA  AND  LETTEKS. 

after,  he  bought  a  house  in  this  place,  and  to  assist  a  young 
man  to  secure  his  creditors,  mortgaged  liis  house.  Of  course 
this  was  the  last  remnant  left  himself  and  wife,  and  they  were 
left  with  nothing — he  too  old  and  sickly  to  work,  and  she 
unable  to  make  more  than  a  bare  living. 

They  removed  to  Redwood  in  '70,  to  New  Ulm  last  fall,  and 
now  have  brought  up  here  again,  in  very  straightened  cir- 
cumstances, with  nothing  to  live  on,  and  barely  enough  cloth- 
ing for  this  mild  weather.  I  have  just  been  to  see  them. 
Of  course  the  county  will  do  something  for  them,  if  called  on, 
but  they  will  try  to  get  through  without  this  if  possible  ;  and 
I  write  to  ask  you  if  among  the  old  settlers  and  those  who 
knew  them  formerly,  you  could  not  make  up  something  for 
them.     A  little  from  a  few  would  be  a  great  deal  for  them. 

Bush  is  eighty-seven  years  old,  and  has  always  been  sick. 
His  wife  weighs  about  three  hundred  pounds,  and  of  course 
don't  get  about  as  lively  as  a  cricket  by  a  good  deal.  It  is  of 
no  use  to  quote  scripture  to  you,  but  let  me  know  if  you  think 
it  is  not  a  good  object  for  charity.  B.  H.  Randall. 

AN   EAELY   VISITOR'S   VIEWS    OF    MINNESOTA. 

August  3,  1849. — Mr.  Stevens  :  From  what  I  have  seen  and 
heard  I  have  a  few  general  objections  to  this  country.  The 
prairies  are  too  large,  timber  too  scarce,  winters  too  long,  and 
consequently  summers  too  short.  Yet  it  may  be  tolerably 
good  to  grow  most  small  grain,  as  oats,  barley,  rye  and  wheat, 
but  wheat  will  hardly  do  as  well.  The  soil  is  rather  too  sandy, 
hence  drouth  soon  effects  vegetation.  You  have  doubtless 
observed  before  this  time  the  enthusiasm  with  which  people 
in  various  parts  of  Minnesota  Territory  are  engaging  in  the 
various  enterprises  ;  she  lives  five  years  in  one  now  ;  the  rush 
by  and  by  will  subside  ;  and  how  many  will  be  astonished  ; 
many  will  be  or  feel  a  little  like  Job's  turkey — that  had  to 
lean  against  tlie  fence  to  gobble.  M.  Kris  Klenner. 

A  view  ten  years  after  the  foregoing. 

Cold  Spring,  July  6tli,  1859.— Dear  Sir  :  I  earnestly  and 
honestly  believe  that  with  your  climate,  and  with  your  j^eople, 
nothing  is  impossible.  I  see  that  you  are  pushing  yourselves 
far  into  the  wilderness,  if  that  expression  can  be  used  of  a 
people  who  plant  their  corn  to-day  and  explore  some  untried 
field  to-morrow.     In  the  energy  and  enterprise  of  your  peo- 


MEMOllANDA    AND    LETTERS.  421 

pie  lies  the  gold  already  coined.  It  is  this  that  forbids  any 
limit  to  what  yon  can  accomplish.  Yon  langh  at  impossibili- 
ties, and  while  mere  supine  men  are  conjecturing  how  a  thing 
is  to  be  done,  you  do  it.     I  am  yours  truly.       E.  J.  McGhee. 

KIND  WOllDS   FROM   AN   OLD   SETTLER. 

Minneapolis,  Feb.  1st,  1858. — Dear  Sir  :  "We  have  the  best 
feeling  existing  between  upper  and  lower  town.  I  have 
watched  your  course  and  action  in  the  legislature  this  winter, 
and  am  proud  to  say  that  your  positions  are  reasonable  and 
just  generally,  and  no  man  in  that  body  would  I  sooner  trust 
with  important  measures.     Yours.  Edward  Murphy. 

"  Lo  !" — what  will  become  of  him  ? 

Itasca,  March  16th,  18G4 — Col.  Stevens  :  Having  a  great 
desire  to  spread  the  glories  of  Minnesota  far  and  wide,  I  have 
become  a  regular  correspondent  of  the. National  Republican 
at  Washington.  Permit  me  to  place  your  valuable  corre- 
spondence on  my  list.  Though  I  never  met  you,  I  claim  you 
as  an  old  actxuaintance  from  reputation — just  as  a  hawk  claims 
a  chicken.  If  nothing  better  crosses  j^our  mind,  give  me  your 
opinion  as  to  the  best  method  of  Christianizing  and  civilizing 
the  Sioux — or  any  other  red  men.  Eastern  philanthropists 
are  in  a  peck  of  trouble  as  to  the  proper  manner  of  putting 
them  on  the  track  to  kingdom  come  and  letting  white  folks 
occupy  the  whole  of  the  continent — and  the  question  pops  up 
"  what  will  become  of  the  poor  Indian  ?"  O.  H.  Kelly, 
hazlewood  republic. 

Oomahoo,  Minnesota,  Pajutaze  P.  O.,  Nov.  11,  1859. — Hon. 
J.  H.  Stevens  :  My  Dear  Sir — I  take  the  advantage  of  my 
slight  personal  acquaintance  with  you,  to  make  an  application, 
in  which  I  flatter  myself  you  will  feel  some  interest.  I  refer 
to  the  passage  of  such  a  law  as  is  contemplated  by  the  consti- 
tution in  reference  to  admitting  to  the  rights  of  citizenship 
such  Indians  as  may  have  made  some  progress  in  the  track  of 
civilization.  Y^ou  have  probably  heard  something  of  the 
Hazlewood  Republic.  As  an  index  of  the  progress  made  here, 
I  send  you  a  copy  of  the  Constitution  of  Minnesota  in  the 
Dakota  language.  You  are  aware  that  in  order  to  have  any 
Indians  raised  to  the  status  of  men,  there  must  be  a  law  of  the 
legislature  regulating  the  mode.  I  have  written  to  Governor 
Sibley,  who  will  doubtless  recommend  the  requisite  legisla- 


422  MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS. 

tion.  May  we  depend  upon  you  to  initiate  and  advocate  such 
a  measure  in  the  senate  ?  I  need  not  say  that  I  am  much 
interested  in  the  speedy  passage  of  whatever  act  is  necessary 
in  the  case.  And  I  would  fondly  hope  that  the  members  of 
the  legislature  will  all  be  disposed  to  do  what  can  be  done  for 
the  advancement  of  these  "  old  settlers"  of  Minnesota  in  civil- 
ization and  Christianization  ;  and  that  it  will  not  be  made  a 
party  question  at  all.     Yours  very  truly.  S.  K.  RiGGS. 

PROPOSED   CAPITOL   REMOVAL. 

St.  Paul,  April  18, 1857. — J.  H.  Stevens,  Glencoe,  Dear  Sir  : 
I  want  your  help  in  the  matter  of  locating  the  Oapitol  by  a 
vote  of  the  people  on  the  Big  Peninsula  in  Lake  Minnetonka. 
The  scheme  is  pretty  well  under  way.  I  can  get  over  four 
thousand  acres  of  land  from  the  settlers  on  the  lake  in  the 
way  of  donations  to  aid  in  the  project.  W.  P.  Russell. 

JUDGE   GOODRICH. 

St.  Paul,  July  4th,  1857. — Dear  Col. :  I  am  not  unmindful 
of  your  kindness  to  me  as  a  citizen  and  legislator.  I  hope 
that  you  will  never  have  cause  to  regret  those  kind  offices. 
I  shall  alM^ays  strive  to  continue  the  friendly  relations  that 
exist  between  us.  We  have  generally  taken  better  care  of 
the  interests  of  others  than  of  our  own.  All  that  you  and  I 
need  to  make  us  popular  men,  is  amj)le  fortune.  That  I  shall 
never  have,  so  I  make  no  calculations  upon  being  a  great  man 
either  in  my  own  estimation  or  that  of  any  one  else.  I  am 
your  friend.  Aaron  Goodrich. 

ON   colonel   BENTON. 

St.  Paul,  April  30th,  1858.— Dear  Col:  You  speak  of  that 
great  man,  Colonel  Benton.  Yes,  he  is  dead.  We  have  no 
other  Benton  to  die.  It  is  no  ordinary  grief  that  can  or 
should  express  the  nation's  sorrow.  He  has  gone  down  to 
history  with  a  more  enduring  page  than  any  man  in  our 
country's  history.  Extracts  from  his  speeches,  and  his  thirty 
years  in  the  senate,  will  be  read  as  long  as  the  l^-nguage  shall 
endure.  Well  may  he  exclaim,  "  What  is  a  seat  in  congress 
to  me  ?  I  who  have  sat  for  thirty  years  in  the  highest  branch 
of  the  national  councils."  But  enough.  I  have  never  expe- 
rienced feelings  of  envy  for  great  men.  I  think  I  can  honor 
all.  I  wish  I  was  the  only  small  man  in  the  land  ;  I  could 
then  leave.     But  I  must  close.  Aaron  Goodrich. 


MEMORANDA  AND   LETTERS.  423 

THE    HUTCHINSONS. 

Hutchinson,  Minn.,  Fob.  23,  187G.  Col.  J.  H.  Stevens: 
Dear  friend  and  brother—  Knowing  your  love  for  muKic,  and 
your  willingness  to  aid  every  good  word  (song)  and  work,  in 
behalf  of  the  musical  fraternity  I  have  this  first  and  only 
favor  to  ask  through  you  of  the  legislature  of  our  adoj^ted 
state,  viz  :  that  before  the  close  of  the  present  session  you 
will  form  and  pass  a  bill  in  the  interest  of  free  singing,  as 
well  as  free  speaking,  granting  to  any  person  or  persons  the 
right  to  hold  public  concerts  of  music  anywhere  in  the  state 
without  license  or  ])enalty.  The  present  infamous  license  is 
frequently  perpetrated  in  our  own  adopted  state  upon  those 
messengers  of  peace  and  good-will,  the  musicians,  hindering 
their  usefulness  in  disseminating  a  higher  civilization  through 
the  divine  medium  of  song.  AsA  B.  Hutchinson. 

Hutchinson,  July  8,  1886. — Col.  J.  H.  Stevens  :  My  good 
old  friend — I  was  much  pleased  to  receive  a  word  from  you, 
and  it  set  me  thinking  of  the  past  when,  thirty-one  years  ago, 
we  first  came  up  the  river  to  St.  Paul  to  see  the  country,  and 
give  our  concerts  On  one  occasion  in  the  corridor  of  the 
church  we  met  two  enthusiastic  men  who  besought  us  to  come 
to  St.  Anthony  and  Minneapolis.  We  kept  our  promise  and 
were  entertained  at  the  cottage  under  the  hill  near  the  bridge, 
and  met  other  good  friends,  and  were  treated  to  milk  and 
honey.  Then  the  getting  away  to  the  Fort  for  supplies  for 
the  journey  through  the  big  woods  to  the  grand  prairie  ;  the 
impromptu  concert  at  Shakopee  ;  the  camj^ing  in  the  woods 
en  route  to  Glencoe  ;  the  foraging  among  the  Dutch  settlers; 
the  welcome  reception  by  Bell  &  Chapman  ;  the  social  gath- 
ering and  songs  at  the  little  hotel  ;  the  tour  over  the  prairie 
to  the  valley  of  the  Hassan  ;  the  campfires,  the  game,  the 
Johnsons,  Pendcrgasts,  Messers,  and  Harringtons,  all  sleep- 
ing by  the  blazing  log  fire,  and  the  mercury  falling  ;  the 
early  risers  with  axes,  chopping  for  the  morning  meal  ;  the 
prospectors,  returning  in  the  evening  delighted  with  the  lay 
of  the  land  and  richness  of  the  soil  ;  the  farewell,  and  ride 
down  the  river.  My  dear  brothers  are  now  all  sleeping  their 
last  sleep,  having  proved  all  things  earthly  full  of  vanity  and 
vexation.  Glad,  dear  man,  you  survive  the  wreck,  and  still 
can  hold  the  pen.  John  W.  Hutchinson. 


424  MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS. 

Colonel  Stevens  and  Jacob  Schaefer  were  socially  and  finan- 
cially intimate  as  early  as  1849,  when  the  former  came  to  Min- 
nesota, and  the  latter  went  to  California.  Their  wives  were 
sisters.  Later  Mr.  Schaefer  was  well  known  in  Hennepin 
county,  as  auditor,  commissioner,  and  business  man.  He  was 
born  in  Baeruth,  near  Strasburg,  then  France,  now  Germany, 
at  which  last-named  place  he  was  educated,  and  then  came  to 
the  United  States.  He  was  four  and  a  half  months  on  the  way 
overland  to  California,  where  he  quickly  won  and  lost  a  fortune, 
and  then  made  his  way  to  Central  America,  being  taken  ill  with 
yellow  fever  on  the  route.  He  lay  unconscious,  with  several 
other  patients,  in  an  illy-ventilated  room,  and  the  doctor  said 
he  would  die.  Two  friendly  sea-captains  had  him  removed  to 
airy  quarters,  and  he  recovered,  to  the  surprise  of  the  doctor, 
disappointment  of  the  undertaker,  and  delight  of  his  seafaring 
friends.  He  took  a  look  at  the  coffin  provided  for  him,  and 
though  it  was  of  beautiful  redwood,  he  declined  its  use,  in  favor 
of  somebody  seemingly  less  fortunate,  and  proceeded  on  nis 
way,  buoyant  with  hope,  and  courageous  to  work.  Going  home 
to  the  United  States,  he  was  shipwrecked  on  the  way. 

Mrs.  Schaefer  returned  with  him  to  his  silver-mining  camp 
in  Honduras,  and  for  five  or  six  years  was  the  only  white  woman 
there,  a  wonder  to  the  dusky  natives.  Their  daughter  Francisca, 
now  wife  of  W.  O.  Winston,  of  Winston  Brothers,  of  Minne- 
apolis, was  born  at  Yuscaran.  The  Catholic  natives  accom- 
plished by  strategy  what  they  could  not  with  consent  of  parents, 
and  the  little  white  native  of  the  tropics  was  bai)tised  in  their 
church,  near  the  mining  town  of  Depilto.  Coming  North  from 
that  country  of  tropical  scenery,  fruits,  and  flowers,  where 
there  were  no  wheeled  vehicles,  and  all  conveyance  was  on  mule- 
back,  the  little  Central  American  brought  with  her  a  young  pet 
tiger,  and  a  bird  of  rare  plumage  ;  but  was  nevertheless  home- 
sick to  return,  preferring  Spanish  as  more  pleasing  to  her  ear, 
and  more  yielding  to  her  tongue. 

Mr.  Schaefer  was  of  a  brusque  cheerfulness,  that  was  like  a 
tonic  to  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  was  fond 
of  children,  and  was  their  popular  friend.  During  the  late  war 
he  was  regimental,  then  brigade  quartermaster,  and  was  called 
to  the  staff  of  a  division  quartermaster.  Ho  experienced  finan- 
cial reverses  from  fire,  flood,  and  shipwreck  ;  but  was  honored 


MEMORANDA   AND    LETTERS.  425 

with  military  and  civil  offices  ;  and  blessed  with  friends.  A 
characteristic  letter  is  given  from — 

Truxilo,  November  2H,  1855.  -As  you  were  somewhat  uneasy 
about  our  safe  arrival  here,  I  must  inform  you  that  Sunday  last, 
the  25th  instant,  we  landed  safe,  after  a  very  pleasant  voyage 
of  only  sixteen  days,  at  this  seaboard  town  in  Honduras.  Our 
captain  was  a  gentleman,  and  we  had  a  good  crew.  Mrs.  S. 
was  sick  for  five  days,  after  which  she  was  able  to  beat  the 
oaptain  at  chess  almost  every  day.  We  have  excellent  health, 
and  are  in  first-rfite  quarters,  with  an  Englishman  who  has  a 
pleasant  house  and  sets  a  fine  table,  with  fruits  and  wines. 

My  machinery,  trunks,  and  goods,  are  already  on  thdir  way 
to  the  interior,  "We  shall  leave  the  30th  with  our  servant. 
"We  have  native  visitors  every  evening.  Mrs.  Schaefer  is  the 
first  American  lady  who  ever  traveled  into  the  interior.  This 
evening  we  took  a  walk.  A  boy  came  running  after,  and  pre- 
sented a  rose,  saying  his  mother  sent  it  to  the  lady.  Flowers 
in  the  gardens  this  28th  of  November  !  We  visited  a  Carib 
village  near  this  place.  They  are  a  black  race,  strong  and 
well  built.  Each  man  has  as  many  wives  as  he  can  build  huts 
for.  Each  wife  must  have  her  own  dwelling.  The  man 
clears  a  piece  of  ground  for  her,  which  she  must  cultivate  as 
long  as  he  is  with  her.  He  goes  a  fishing,  and  for  a  few  months 
each  year  cuts  mahogany.  Happy  race  !  We  entered  several 
of  the  houses.  In  one  of  them  we  found  a  young  woman 
who  was  very  happy.  She  said  she  had  been  very  busy  all 
day,  and  was  going  to  be  married  to-morrow. 

We  expect  to  be  in  Yuscaran  by  the  18th  of  December. 
The  revolution  is  ended.  I  hope  it  will  not  revive  until  the 
Yankees  occupy  the  land.  Then  the  country  will  improve, 
and  it  will  be  the  garden  of  the  world.  J.  Schaefer. 

Col.  Stevens — Dear  Sir  :  He  that  doeth  well  ought  to  be 
commended,  and  I  feel  privileged  to  say,  that  in  the  legisla- 
ture your  willingness  to  undertake,  and  efficiency  in  carrying 
through  what  you  did  undertake,  whether  for  constituencies 
you  immediately  represent,  or  those  more  remote,  make  you  a 
model  legislator.  You  have  done  the  whole  state  a  great  ser- 
vice in  procuring  the  establishment  of  an  institution  that  Avill 
be  a  lasting  honor  and  glory  to  our  commonwealth.  Your 
obliged  foilow-citizen.  T.  Elwell. 


426  MEMORANDA   AND   LETTERS. 

FROM   MARTIN   MCLEOD. 

Oak  Grove,  March  11,  1852. 

Dear  Sir  :  Before  I  take  up  my  weary  way  to  resume  the 
shackles  of  bondage  imposed  upon  me  by  the  most  trying  of 
all  callings,  the  Indian  trade,  I  will  drop  you  a  line.  Mr. 
Pond  was  here  this  morning,  and  said  that  he  thought  Mrs, 
P.  would  not  recover,  but  linger  on,  perhaps  for  some  months 
yet.  She  is  wearing  away  from  this  frail  abode,  to  the  quiet 
repose  of  a  future  and  better  hope,  than  aught  of  earth. 
Happy  those  who  are  prepared  for  the  change. 

Granby,  C.  E.,  April  25,  1854. — Dear  Sir  :  After  twenty 
years  absence  from  ones  native  land  it  is  no  easy  matter  to 
get  away  to  return  to  that  of  our  adoption.  I  have  been  stay- 
ing here  for  some  time  with  the  dearest  of  my  brothers,  Eev. 
Norman  McLeod,  and  will  quit  his  most  agreeable  and  in- 
structive society  with  deep  regret.  He  is  highly  esteemed  in 
the  region  round  about,  and  has  been  of  much  usefulness. 
You  would  like  him.  I  hope  we  will  have  him  one  of  these 
days,  with  us  in  Minnesota.  He  is  anxious  to  go  west.  In- 
deed every  one  is.  Westward  the  star  of  empire  holds  its 
unwavering  course.  Minnesota  has  incalculably  advanced  in 
my  estimation  since  I  started  on  my  journey.  Having  seen 
Buch  an  extent  of  country  in  the  United  States  and  both  the 
Canadas,  so  far  inferior  in  every  respect  to  our  Territory,  I 
am  now  without  a  ray  of  doubt,  sanguine  that  it  will  very 
soon  be  settled,  and  well  settled,  with  an  industrious,  thriving 
and  happy  population.  There  is  no  place  I  have  seen  since  I 
left  I  prefer  to  Minnesota — none  tha,t  I  like  so  well. 

Oak  Grove,  Hennepin  county,  Jan.  20,  1857. — Dear  Col. : 
What  about  that  draft  for  the  University  ?  We  can  get  the 
charter  through  without  difficulty,  I  think,  but  the  question 
is  about  the  grant  to  endow  it.  You  will  have  perhaps  seen 
by  the  papers  that  Rice  has  introduced  a  bill  providing  for 
state  organization,  making  a  north  and  south  line.  I  do  not 
know  what  your  views  are  as  to  the  boundaries  ;  mine  are  for 
the  north  and  south  line.  I  know  the  west,  and  the  utter 
wortfilessness  of  a  great  portion  of  it  toward  the  Missouri. 
I  also  know  and  have  traveled  in  the  Lake  Superior  region 
in  many  directions.  We  want  the  minerals,  pines,  fisheries, 
and  the  outlet  by  the  great  inland  sea.     We  do  not  want  the 


MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS.  427 

muddy  and  turbulent  Missouri,  with  its  still  more  dark  and 
turbulent  tribes,  its  gravelly  hills,  its  sterile  prairies  without 
a  tree,  "its  deserts  vast  and  idle".  For  all  these  reasons,  and 
more,  I  am  now,  and  always  have  been,  for  the  north  and 
south  line,  which  will  make  Minnesota  a  magnificent  state 
with  groat  and  diversified  resources,  loading  to  boundless 
wealth,  and  all  the  mighty  results  which  follow  in  its  train, 
and  the  interminable  blessings  also,  when  properly  applied, 
as  let  us  hojje  they  will  be  in  the  brighter  and  wiser  future. 
We  belong  to  the  past,  but  let  us  embrace  our  little  share, 
prospectively. 

I  most  heartily  agree  with  you  as  regards  keeping  some 
mementos  of  the  poor  disappearing  aljoriginees,  but  also 
have  to  thank  you  for  your  compliment  to  my  individual  name. 
I  am  fully  impressed  with  all  that  appertains  to  the  future  of 
Glencee.  The  Creator  has  done  his  great  part,  but  there  is 
always  something  left  for  man  to  do. 

April  4,  1858. — The  proposed  cemetery  is  too  near  Glencoe. 
What  is  needed  of  a  ten  acre  cemetery,  which  would  be  large 
enough  for  a  place  of  burial — a  Necropolis  for  a  city  of  half 
a  million  of  inhabitants.  Why,  ten  acres  would  be  large 
enough  for  the  whole  county,  for  generations  yet  unborn, 
with  room  and  verge  enough  for  all  the  ghosts  and  ghostesses 
in  the  Northwest  to  pace  their  weary  rounds,  above  ground 
by  the  pale  light  of  the  moon,  or  the  flickering  glare  of  the 
aurora  boraelis.  And  the  day,  the  barberous  age,  of  burying 
the  dead  at  our  doors,  is  p)9^st.  Surely  this  insane  relic  of 
anti-sanity  will  not  be  resuscitated  at  Glencoe. 

July  23,  1859. — I  regret  to  see  in  the  New  York  Herald  that 
poor  Judson  Hutchinson  has,  in  a  state  of  mental  derange- 
ment, hung  himself  at  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  his  residence. 
What  a  poor,  uncertain,  probationary  state,  this  life  is,  at 
best,  but  ah !  how  miserable  when  the  end  is  so  gloomy  and 
deplorable. 

Be  fearless  for  the  people  in  your  Register.  It  is  a  sacred 
duty  you  owe  to  your  adopted  country  as  a  man  and  a  jour- 
nalist. It  matters  not  wdiose  toes  you  may  tread  upon.  It  is 
only  rogues,  not  honest  men,  who  will  fear  you,  and  that  is 
the  proudest  position  any  paper  or  public  exponent  can 
attain  to.  Martin  McLeod. 


428  MEMORANDA   AND    LETTERS. 

DEATH   OF   MARTIN   MCLEOD  —  LETTER   FROM    WM.    S.    CHAPMAN. 

Minneapolis,  Nov.  23,  1860. — Dear  Colonel  :  I  have  just 
returned  from  paying  the  last  tribute  of  respect  to  Hon.  Mar- 
tin McLeod.  He  v^^as  at  my  house  the  day  I  wrote  you  last, 
took  dinner  with  me,  was  unusually  jovial,  and  spoke  of  his 
excellent  health.  He  asked  me  to  rent  a  house  here  for  him, 
and  said  he  would  bring  his  family  here  and  send  his  children 
to  school  this  winter.  He  went  home  to  Oak  Grove  late  in 
the  evening,  attended  church  the  next  day,  and  in  the  evening 
was  taken  quite  unwell.  Wednesday  he  wrote  in  for  medi- 
cine, which  I  sent  him.  The  next  day  Dr.  Boutillier  visited 
him,  and  thought  he  would  be  better  in  a  day  or  two.  He 
grew  worse,  and  I  sent  Dr.  Anderson  out.  He  was  deranged, 
and  talked  incessantly.  He  told  Mr.  Pond,  who  called  the 
day  he  died,  that  he  was  too  young  a  man  to  die,  and  that  he 
put  his  trust  in  the  Savior.  He  died  Tuesday.  Mr.  Pond 
preached  the  sermon.  W.  S.  Chapman. 

REMINISCENT. 

Department  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  July  5th,  1877. — 
Old  in  our  friendship,  and  growing  old  in  years,  what  vital 
changes  have  taken  place  since  we  discussed  the  agricultural 
possibilities  of  Minnesota,  twenty-seven  years  ago,  sitting  on 
the  bank  of  the  Mississij)pi  above  the  Falls,  or  wandering 
from  your  little  claim-house  across  the  virgin  prairie  which  is 
now  adorned  by  streets,  houses,  and  mills,  of  this  wonderful 
city  of  Minneapolis.  Enthusiastic  and  imaginative  as  we 
were,  the  facts  accomplished  have  outrun  all  prophecy  and 
hope,  and  our  state  to-day  leads  in  the  production  of  man's 
first  necessity,  bread.  What  are  the  changes  for  the  next 
twenty-seven  years  ?  Who  can  tell  ?  You  and  I  may  not  be 
here  to  know  ;  but  let  us  do  our  earnest  part  in  the  right 
direction  for  the  glory  of  the  present,  and  the  benefit  of  the 
future.     Your  friend.  Y/m.  G.  LeDuc. 

coming  TO  the  point — AND  TO  MINNESOTA. 

Salem,  Ohio,  3d  Month,  11th,  1852.— Dear  Friend  :  I  have 
very  often  thought  of  you  with  feelings  of  near  affection, 
strangers  though  we  are  to  each  other,  and  have  often  been 
led  to  sympathize  with  you,  in  your  isolated  situation  ;  and 
yet  in  view  of  the  difficulties  in  our  once  peaceful  Society, 
perhaps  it  would  be  more  appropriate  to  rejoice  on  your 


MEMORANDA   AND   LETTERS.  429 

account,  that  in  respect  to  these  things  you  are  not  as  we  are, 
"  Tossed  with  a  tempest  and  not  comforted."  There  is  no 
doubt  in  my  mind  that  there  is  a  disposition  in  many  to  give 
encouragement,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  to  views  approx- 
imating more  nearly  to  the  doctrines  of  other  professors  of 
the  Christian  name,  than  those  of  our  early  friends  did  ;  but 
there  are  many  who  feel  bound  to  "  contend  earnestly  for  the 
faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints."  In  all  our  travels  we  saw 
no  place  we  liked  so  well  as  Minnesota,  and  I  believe  if  it 
should  prove  to  be  adapted  to  Agricultural  pursuits  there  are 
several  families  of  friends  in  the  neighborhood  that  will  turn 
their  steps  thitherward  ere  long,  perhaps  myself  and  family 
among  the  rest.  Hoping  to  hear  from  thee  soon,  I  conclude 
with  much  love  to  thee  and  thine.      Joseph  Brantingham. 

Amasa  Cobb,  once  a  messmate  of  Colonel  Stevens  in  the 
lead  mines  at  Galena,  Illinois,  and  afterwards  a  general  in  the 
army,  now  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Nebraska, 
recently  visited  his  old  friend  in  Minneapolis,  and  heralded 
in  a  pleasant  way  his  coming  by  a  letter  dated — 

State  of  Nebraska,  Supreme  Court,  Lincoln,  July  11,  1888. 
My  dear  old  Friend  and  Compatriot  :  I  am  making  calcula- 
tions to  invade  your  city  the  last  of  next  week  or  tlK3  week 
following.  The  ostensible  object  of  this  movement  is  to  take 
my  wife  to  visit  her  brother.  Dr.  Moffet,  of  Minneapolis,  but 
my  real  purpose  in  making  the  campaign,  is  that  I  may  have 
another  meeting  with  you,  before  one  of  us  is  mustered  out. 
I  write  this  to  inquire  whether  you  will  probably  be  in  the 
city  at  or  about  the  time  above  indicated.  As  the  fellow 
said  when  his  lawyer  advised  him  to  run  away  from  Texas, 
"  I  don't  know  where  yon  would  go  to"  from  cool  Minnesota 
such  weather  as  this  ;  and  still  Minnesota  is  a  large  state,  I 
am  advised,  and  I  might  not  be  able  to  find  you  among  the 
lakes  and  cool  recesses  without  information  or  a  guide. 
Your  old  friend.  Amasa  Cobb. 

St.  Paul,  Sept.  28,  1849.— Mr.  Steele's  ferry  bill  was  up  in 
the  Council  yesterday,  and  they  have  made  the  most  complete 
humbug  of  it  you  can  imagine.  The  time  is  reduced  to  five 
years.  Foot  passengers  pay  six  and-a-fourth  cents,  the  rest 
in  proportion,  and  he  is  bound  in  $1,000  to  keep  his  ferry 
open  day  and  night,  &c.  Joseph  E.  Brown. 


430  MEMORANDA  AND   LETTERS. 

AN   ELECTION   IN   YE   OLDEN   TYME. 

October  7tli,  1852. — I  wrote  you  a  note  two  days  since 
inf orming  you  and  our  friends  that  tlie  people  at  Little  Crow's 
village  had  held  a  meeting  and  nominated  J.  W.  Brown  of 
Dakota  county  for  their  representative,  Mr.  Robertson  and 
Mr.  Cook  both  having  refused  to  run.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  church  in  good  standing,  and  a  good 
Whig,  and  will  support  the  People's  ticket,  and  I  hope  all 
good  citizens  will  support  him. 

I  would  like  to  get  my  house  at  Little  Falls  insured  for 
about  $350,  but  wish  to  know  your  rates  of  percentage  before 
I  conclude  to  do  so.  P.  Prescott. 

Executive  Department,  Idaho  Territory,  Boise  City,  June 
21,  1878. — My  dear  Friend  :  Like  a  pleasant  echo  from  the 
chamber  of  pleasant  memories,  comes  your  very  kind  letter 
of  the  10th.  Very  happy  am  I  to  hear  from  you.  I  have 
thought  of  you  a  thousand  times — wondered  if  you  still  lived, 
and  where  ?  whether  you  still  thought  of  me  ?  whether  we 
should  meet  again  ?  and  often  thought  of  writing  to  you. 
For  of  the  many  good  and  true  men  it  has  been  my  fortune 
to  know,  you  hold  a  sacred  place.  M.  Brayman. 

Minneapolis,  March  17th,  1855. — I  beg  leave  to  resign  the 
position  to  which  your  kindness  called  me,  that  of  Teacher  of 
the  Public  School  of  Minneapolis.  The  reason  which  induces 
me  to  this  step  is  the  perplexities  surrounding  us  pertaining 
to  the  entry  of  homes  at  the  Land  Office,  which  will  necessa- 
rily draw  much  upon  our  time  and  attention.  I  thank  you 
for  the  uniform  kindness  and  attention  you  have  shown  me 
since  my  service  under  your  direction.         Charles  Hoag. 

Princeton  Mills,  Preston  county,  Virginia. — Brother  and 
friend — Permit  me  thus  to  address  you,  for  so  I  esteem  all 
who  work  upon  the  square.  News  from  Minnesota  is  like 
good  news  from  a  far  country.  I  now  feel  interested  more  in 
that  far-off  territory  than  in  the  old  tobacco  fields  of  Virginia. 
I  will  resign  the  office  of  surveyor  and  take  my  little  family 
to  Minnesota  in  the  spring.  I  would  rather  live  in  snow  a 
foot  deep  than  in  this  rainy  climate  in  the  winter.  Could  I 
sell  a  few  dozen  first-rate  rifles,  also  a  few  hundred  good 
chopping  axes  ?  and  I  think  of  taking  out  a  pair  of  good 
horses  and  a  buggy.     Give  me  your  opinion.      A.  J.  Bell. 


carver's  sketch   of  the  falls  of  ST.  ANTHONY.  1766. 


MEMORANDA  AND  LETTERS.  431 

Washington,  Feb.  14,  1867.— I  have  been  here  about  ten 
days,  and  have  done  but  little  towards  making  a  treaty  with 
the  Indians.  There  are  a  dozen  or  more  delegations  of 
Indians  here  from  different  parts  of  the  country,  all  pressing 
their  claims  for  precedence  at  the  department.  Congress  is 
growing  more  radical  every  day.  Even  Reverdy  Johnson  is 
in  favor  of  the  constitutional  amendment  and  negro  suffrage. 
So  you  see  the  political  world  moves.  I  am  satisfied  the  next 
congress  will  insist  on  universal  suffrage.       J.  B.  Bassett. 

AN   INFANT   PIONEER — AN   OLD   SETTLER. 

A  grand  woman  of  this  century,  identified  with  the  history  of 
Minnesota,  is  living  in  Minneapolis,  at  the  age  of  "three  score 
years  and  ten."  Of  romantic  birth,  she  was  here  in  infancy 
and  during  early  childhood,  when  Minnehaha,  and  the  Falls  of 
St.  Anthony,  were  in  their  natural  glory  ;  and  she  saw  them  with 
fresh  young  eyes  undimmed  to  their  beauty  and  grandeur. 
She  was  here  wath  her  parents  when  Fort  Snelling  was  Camp 
Coldwater.  Outside  the  Fort,  the  nearest  neighbors  were  three 
hundred  miles  aw^ay,  and  the  mail  was  received  only  once  in  six 
months.  She  witnessed  the  arrival  of  the  first  steamboat  at 
the  Fort.  The  Dakota  language  was  familiar  to  her.  She  has 
been  intimately  acquainted  wnth  our  great  statesmen,  brave 
generals,  grand  philanthropists,  and  identified  with  the  nation's 
progress  and  glory.  The  infant  pioneer  of  1819  is  in  1889  one 
of  the  oldest  settlers.  Incidents  of  her  life  are  autobiagraph- 
ically  told  by  Charlotte  Ouisconsin  Van  Cleve,  wife  of  Major- 
General  Horatio  P.  Van  Cleve,  and  are  of  great  interest. 


The  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  Discovery  of  the 
Falls  of  Saint  Anthony  was  celebrated  by  the  Minnesota  His- 
torical Society,  at  the  University  Campus,  Minneapolis,  Min- 
nesota, on  the  third  day  of  July,  eighteen  hundred  and  eighty. 
Articles  were  requested  to  be  prepared  for  a  Memorial  Volume 
on  the  Life  of  Hennepin  and  Establishment  of  Catholic  Mis- 
sions, by  Bishoj)  John  Ireland  ;  Indian  Trade,  by  Hon.  H.  M. 
Eice;  Military  Occupation,  by  T.  V.  D.  Heard,  Esq.;  Protes- 
tant Missions,  by  Rev.  S.  R.  Riggs,  D.  D. ;  Education,  by  Rev. 
E.  D.  Neill  ;  Civil  Government,  by  Gen.  H.  H.  Sibley  ;  Our 
Commercial  Interests,  by  Capt.  R.  Blakely  ;  Agriculture,  by 
Col.  J.  H.  Stevens  ;  Early  French  Explorers,  by  J.  E.  Ferte. 


432  CHRONOLOGICAL. 

1680.  Ill  September,  DuLutli  and  Hennepin  were  at  the 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

1700.     LeSueur  ascends  the  Minnesota  River. 

1766.  Jonathan  Carver,  on  November  17th,  reaches  the 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

1817.  Major  Stephen  Long,  U.  S.  A.,  visits  the  Falls  of 
St.  Anthony. 

1819.  Colonel  Leavenworth  arrives  on  the  24th  of  August, 
with  trooj^s,  at  Mendota. 

1820.  Laidlow,  superintendent  of  farming  for  Earl  Sel- 
kirk, passes  from  Pembina  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  to  purchase 
seed  wheat.  Upon  the  15th  of  April  left  Prairie  du  Chien 
with  Mackinaw  boats  and  ascended  the  Minnesota  to  Big 
Stone  Lake,  where  the  boats  were  placed  on  rollers  and 
dragged  a  short  distance  to  Lake  Traverse,  and  on  the  3d  of 
June  reached  Pembina.  On  the  5tli  of  May,  Col.  Leaven- 
worth established  summer  quarters  at  Camp  Coldwater,  Hen- 
nepin county.  In  July,  Governor  Cass,  of  Michigan,  visits 
the  camp.  In  August,  Col.  Snelling  succeeds  Leavenworth. 
Sept  20,  corner-stone  laid  under  command  of  Col.  Snelling. 
First  white  marriage  in  Minnesota,  Lieutenant  Green  to  a 
daughter  of  Captain  Gooding. 

1821.  Fort  St.  Anthony  was  sufficiently  completed  to  be 
occupied  by  troops.  Mill  at  St.  Anthony  Falls  constructed 
for  the  use  of  garrison,  under  supervision  of  Lieut.  McCabe. 

1823.  The  first  steamboat,  the  Virginia,  on  May  10th, 
arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Minnesota  river. 

1824.  General  Winfield  Scott  inspects  Fort  St.  Anthony,  and 
at  his  suggestion  the  "War  Department  changed  the  name  to 
Fort  Snelling. 

1826.  January  26th,  first  mail  in  five  months  received  at 
the  Fort.     April  5th,  snow-storm  with  flashes  of  lightning. 

1829.  Major  Taliaferro,  Indian  agent,  establishes  a  farm 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians  at  Lake  Calhoun. 

1833.  Ptev.  W.  T.  Boutwell  establishes  a  mission  school 
for  Ojibways  at  Leech  Lake. 

1834.  In  May,  Samuel  W.  and  Gideon  H.  Pond  arrive  at 
Lake  Calhoun  as  missionaries  among  the  Sioux.  November, 
Henry  H.  Sibley  arrives  at  Mendota  as  agent  of  Fur  Company. 
In  June,  Presbyterian  Church  at  Fort  Snelling  organized. 


KIND  WORDS  OF  COMMENDATION  OF  THE  WORK. 

Dated  at  the  Rooms  of  the  Minnesota  Historical  Society, 

St.  Paul,  Nov.  13,  1889. 
My  dear  Colonel  Stevens  :  I  have  read  the  proof-sheets  of 
your  Reminiscences  with  great  interest.  It  contains  a  large 
mass  of  vahiuble  facts  regarding  the  pioneer  history  of  Min- 
nesota, and  about  our  old  settlers,  which  have  never  been 
placed  in  print  before,  and  every  old  settler  will  read  the 
work  with  gratification  and  interest.  It  will  prove  a  valuable 
addition  to  our  materials  for  Minnesota  history,  more  espe- 
cially so  if  a  good  index  is  added  to  it.      Yours  truly. 

J.  Fletcher  Williams. 


Minneapolis,  December  5th,  1889. 
Colonel  John  H.  Stevens — My  Dear  Sir :  I  have  read  with 
great  interest  the  proof-sheets  of  your  forthcoming  work 
entitled  "Personal  Recollections  of  Minnesota  and  its  People." 
This  book,  I  believe,  is  the  result  of  the  urgent  request  of 
many  of  our  older  citizens  that  the  man  who  first  settled  with 
his  family  on  the  site  of  Minneapolis,  and  who  preempted  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  its  very  heart — who  knows  every 
detail  of  the  early  beginnings  here  as  no  other  man  does, 
should  put  into  permanent  record  all  the  things  he  could 
remember,  both  little  and  great,  about  these  beginnings. 
This  you  have  done,  it  seems  to  me,  with  eminent  success. 
You  have  also  included  very  much  valuable  historical  matter 
pertaining  to  Hennepin  county  and  the  whole  state  of  Minne- 
sota. You  certainly  have  furnished  the  treasure-house  for  all 
persons  in  the  future  who  may  undertake  to  write  the  story 
of  Minneapolis  in  its  early  days.     Yours  very  sincerely, 

S.  C.  Gale. 


The  publishers  of  this  book  are  indebted  to  D.  D.  Merrill, 
of  St.  Paul,  for  the  use,  kindly  tendered,  of  illustrations  of 
the  early  missionaries  to  the  Indians  in  Minnesota,  and  for 
views  of  St.  Anthony  Falls  of  1853,  and  of  Minnehaha  Falls. 
Also  to  Walter  S.  McLcod  for  the  private  journal  of  his  father. 
Rev.  S.  W.  Pond,  of  Shakopee,  materially  aided  them  by  the 
loan  of  manuscript  in  relation  to  the  early  missionaries.  To 
Chas.  M.  Foote,  of  Minneapolis,  they  are  also  under  obliga- 
tions for  well-authenticated  incidents  of  the  Sioux  Massacre. 


Capt.  John  West  came  to  the  county  of  Hennepin  as 
early  as  1S54.;  Capt.  Daniel  Day  about  the  same  time. 
Botli  of"  these  >j:entlemen  liave  rendered  efficient  and  val- 
uable service  on  the  ])olice  force  of  Minnea]jolis.  George 
McMuUen  followed  in  the  footstei)s  of  John  L.  Tennv, 
and  to  that  gentleman  are  the  citizens  indebted  for 
many  of  the  l)eautiful  stone  and  brick  buildings  in  the 
city.  Wni.  T.  Inks,  another  early  contractor,  kept  pace 
with  Mr.  McMullen.  Hon.  Joseph  Moody,  Thos.  Moul- 
ton,  and  (iCO.  D.  Perkins,  ])ioneers  on  the  east  side,  ren- 
dered valuable  aid  in  (leveloi)ing  the  resourced  of  St. 
Anthony. 

.\lberl  \V.  Lawrence,  who  landed  in  vSt.  Anthony  in 
185"),  has  ahvjiys  J^ibored  in  the  interests  of  good  mor- 
als, and  ever  end<;j^vored  to  elevate  and  better  the  con- 
dition of  his  fellow-men.  In  this  he  has  always  received 
the  cordial  aid  of  Calvin  \V.  Clark,  a  resident  of  Min- 
neapolis since  liSBO.  James  Patten,  who  made  his  home 
in  St.  Anthony  in  May,  1851,  has  gained  a  com])etenc\- 
l)y  industry  in  the  lumbering  business. 

To  Prof.  C.  A.  Widstrand  were  the  early  settlei's  in- 
debted for  the  education  of  their  young  ladies  in  the 
higher  and  necessary  branches  of  everything  that  apper- 
tained to  music.  Most  of  these  ladies  are  matrons 
now,  and  all  cherish  his  efforts,  so  earnestly  bestow^ed 
by  him  in  their  behalf.  In  the  fall  of  185(>.  I  heard  the 
since  immortal  Adelina  Patti  contribute  a  merited  com- 
pliment to  I'rof  Widstrand.  It  was  on  the  occasion  of 
her  visit  to  the  then  embryo  city  of  Minnea]jolis.  The 
Professor  aided  her  in  a  concert  she  gave  in  the  city. 
Neither  of  them  expected  that  in  their  life  time  Minne- 
apolis would  expand  into  such  a  large  city. 


Since  the  closing  pages  of  this  work  have  been  fin- 
ished, many  more  of  the  author's  kind  and  early  friends 
have  crossed  the  silent  river.  Among  them  are  Hon. 
Eugene  M.  Wilson,  Judge  E.  S.  Jones,  Joseph  Dean, 
Benjamin  F.  Bull,  A.  D.  Foster,  and  Richard  Martin; 
all  pioneers  and  men  of  great  merit,  whose  memor\'  will 
always  be  cherished  by  those  who  were  associated  with 
them  in  the  earlv  historv  of  this  countrv. 


INDEX. 


Abbott,  Hiram,  18G,  205. 

Abel,  Harvcj',  253. 

Abraham,  J.  P.,  310,  322,  320. 

Adams,  Rev.  M.  N.,  29,  4-8,  GO,  537. 

Adams,  Mrs.  M.  N.,  337. 

Alden,  R.  S.,  314-. 

Aldrieh,  Cvrus,  2.S4-,  2i)5,  2i)0,  300, 
302,306,309,312,313,  31+,  317, 
318,  319,  322,  326,   336. 

Alien,  J.  H.,  336. 

Allen,  Alvaren,  106,  207.  284-,  317. 

Ames,  r)r..\.E.,  21,  32,  136,  1+6,  150. 
161,16+,  165,  169,  178,  ISO,  183, 
191,192,  202,  207,  208,  213,  21+, 
21+,  227,  237,  2+0,  2++,  261,  272, 
28+,  287,  300,  306,  310,  315,  318, 
320,  325,  +13. 

Ames,  Michael  E.,  166. 

Ames,  B.  B.,  1+7,  188,  307,  309,  312, 
318,  325,  33+,  359. 

Ames,  E.,  186. 

Ames,  O.,  186,  205. 

Ames,  Rev.  C.  G.,  108,  170,  182,  225, 
239,  2+1,  2+9,  277,  298,  300,  30+, 
313, 335. 

Ames,  Dr.  A.  A.,  358. 

Ames  &;  Bascomb,  289. 

Anderson,  Dr.  C.  L.,  175,  196,  225, 
27+,  290,  315,   322,  359,  +00. 

Anderson,  J.  M.,  236,  2+2,  250,  276, 
291,  327. 

Anderson,  Robert,  251. 

Anderson,  James,  219,  251. 

Anderson,  A.  G.,  383. 

Anderson,  D.  M.,  277,  310. 

Andrews,  Thomas  F.,  323. 

Angell,  A.  O.,  253. 

Anjjell,  Henrv,  120,  1+3,  152,  158. 

Ankeny,  \V.  P.,  307,  309,  313,  320. 

ApKar,  Daniel,  215. 

Armstrong,  !Mrs.  B.,  1+8. 

Armstrong,  Hiram,  192. 

Armstrong,  Solon,  307,  326. 

Armstrong,  J.  A.,  330,  380. 

.Vtwater,  Isaac,  92,  107.  108,  109, 
110,  121,  126,  138,  1+2,  1++,  1+9, 
165,  166,  169,  171,  173,  193,  201, 
20+,  205,  207,  208,  22+,  228,  2+1, 
255,  259,  285,  292,  299,  310,  312, 
335,  337,  393,  +18. 

.\t\vater,  Mrs.  Isaac,  313. 

Atkinson,  J.  B.  289. 

Attv,  John  H.,  2+8. 

Atwood,  H.  S.,  1+5,  1+6,  205. 

Atkinson,  Rev.  Lewis,  219. 

Austin,  Eliiah,  1++,  150.  192,  205. 

Au.stin.  A.  C,  30+,  31+,  322,  380. 

Ayer,  Rev.  Fred,  18,  19. 

Babbitt,  \V.  D.,  236,  2+3,  269,  272, 
285,  308,  329. 

Babcoek,  L.  A.,  337. 

Babcock,  Chas.  H.,  337. 

Bachelor,  F.  B.,  168. 

Backus,  Mrs.  Electa,  92. 

Bagley,  C.  G.,  307. 

Baillv,  Alex.,  7,  37. 

Baker,  J.  H..  326,  330.  332. 

Baker,  B.  F.,  273,  31(i,  312.  326,  32S. 


Baker,  M.  C,  2+0,  2+3,  257. 
Baldwin,  Mark,  1+5,  156,  186. 
Baldwin,    R.   J.,    307,  309,  311,  325, 

336,   361,  380. 
Baldwin,  Daniel,  216,  22+. 
Baldwin,  F.  E.,  216. 
Baldwin,  Geo.  P.,  216,  322. 
Ball,  K.,  20+,  22+. 
Balif,  John,  1  20. 
Barber.     D.    R.,    289,    295,  33+,    336, 

359,  360. 
Barber,  J.  N.,  136,  19+,  202,  203,  205, 

207,  2()8,  2+3,  259,   279. 
Barnes.  Rev.  Seth,  26+,  278. 
Barnard,  Thos.  G.,  307. 
Barrows,  Fred.  C,  295. 
Barrows,  \V.  M.,  295. 
Basler,  Chas.,  3.S.3. 
Bass,  J.  \V.,  10,  17,  30. 
Bartow,  Samuel,  218,  221,  292. 
Bartholomew,    Gen.    R.  L.,    2+3,  2++, 

250,  292,  300,  322. 
Barton,  A.  C,  307. 
Bassett,  Fred.,  30+. 
Bassett,  Mrs.  T-  B-,  276,  305. 
Bassett,  Piiillip,  136.  * 

Bassett,  Daniel,    289,    312,    31  +  ,  326, 

333,  335. 
Bassett,  Daniel,  Sr.,  335. 
Bassett,  J.  B.,  92,  136,  138,  151,  162, 

183,  20+,  205,  213,  2+1,  261,  275, 

291,29+,  298,  309,  312,  318,  326, 

332,  33+,   335,  +31. 
Bates,  E.  N,,  289,  295,  300,  30+,  306, 

309,  310. 
Bausman,    Dr.  A.  L.    295,    305,    328, 

529    359. 
Baxter,  Jolin,  253,  263,  31+. 
Bazlev,  T.  T.,  251. 
Beal,  A.  H.,  331. 

Bean.  S.,  92,  1++,  15+,  190,  2:;o.  252. 
Bean,  Reuben,  91,  105. 
Bean, John,  91,  20+. 
Bean.  Amos,  91,  190. 
Beebe,  Frank,  139,  295,  359. 
Beebe  &  Mendenhall,    30+,    3()8,  310, 

33+,  336,  359,  360. 
Becdc,  Cvrus,  306,  326. 
Bedue,  John,  192. 

Bell,  J.  E.,  328,  329,  33+,  335,  336. 
Bell,  A.  J.,  265,  293,  311,  319,  322. 
Bell,  D.  C,  329,  336,  359,  380,  381. 
Beeman,  A.  P.,  252. 
Beeman,  H.  D.,  307,  315,  318. 
Bennett,  A.,  215. 
Benson,  A. H.  292. 
Benson,  Jared,  326,  332,  336. 
Berkman.  Dr.  C.  C,  2+8.  311. 
Ben-v,John,  1+5,  155,  200. 
BerrV,  John  M.,  326. 
Bci-rv,  Mark  T.,  155,  161,  316. 
Bertram,  Miss.  236. 

Bertram,  Geo.  M.,  199,  218.  235,  2+3. 
Bibbins,  T.  S.,  308. 
Bibeault,  Lewis,  219. 
Bickford,  David,    137,  138.   139,   162, 

192.  205,  216. 
Bigelow,  S.,  2+3,  2+8. 


INDEX. 


Bigelow,  Mrs.  S.,  242. 

Birge,  Henry  L.,  293,  295,  309,  333. 

Birmingham,  H.,  199. 

Biernan,  A.  P.,  218. 

Bishop,  Jesse,  307,  322. 

Bishop,  Miss  Harriet  E.,  204. 

Bissell,  Mrs.,  360. 

Black,  John  I.,  328,  336. 

Black,  Mahlon,  259.  285. 

Black,  Mrs.  Mahlon,  156. 

Blaisdell,  Robert,    143,  152,  162,  265. 

Blaisdell,  Robert,  Jr.,    143,    152,  155, 

162, 
Blaisdell,  John  T.,  143,  152,  162. 
Blaisdell,  Wm.,  143,  335. 
Blake,  Henry.  199. 
Blakely,  Capt.  Russell,  4. 
Blakeman,  A.,  325,  330,  336, -380. 
Bloomquist,  C.  A.,  383. 
Bofferding,  John,  295. 
Bofferding,  Nicholas,  295. 
Bohan,  T.  M.,  295. 
Bohannan,  J.  C,  192,  205. 
Boorbar,  Mrs.  J.,  242. 
Borden,  Edmund,  205. 
Borup.  C.  W.,  166,  321. 
Bost,  Theo.,  293. 
Bostwick,  Lardner,  91,  117,  177,179, 

210,  263,  291,  322,  330. 
Bostwick,  Alex.,  253. 
Bottineau,  John  B.,  306,  392,  383. 
Bottineau,  Pierre,    15,    16,    135,   166, 

220,  393. 
Boulee,  M.,  219. 
Bourgeois,  Geo.,  186. 
Bourgeois,  Lewis,  186. 
Boutwell,  Miss,  335. 
Bowman,  Geo.  D.,173,  184,  185,  190, 

260,  263,   278,  337. 
Bowman,  Wm.,  333. 
Bowman,  D.  B.,  333. 
Boyington,  Miss  Martha,  243. 
Brackett,  Geo.  A.,  221,  307,  309,  329, 

335. 
Brackett,  H.  H.,  335. 
Bradford,  James  F.,  318. 
Bradford,  Adolphus,  289,  295,  318. 
Bradford,  Otis,  309. 
Bradlev,  James  F.,  235,  243,  275.324, 

327,  359. 
Brawlcy,  G.  D.,  253. 
Brawlev,  W.  F,,  204,  263. 
Bray,  Dr.  E.,  383. 
Bremer,  Miss  Fredericka,  31,  90. 
Brewer,  L.  M.,  323. 
Brewer,  J.  M.,  323. 
Brisette,  Edmond,  143. 
Bristol,    W.,    92,  130,  192,   193,  213. 
Bronson,  B.  W.,  11,  30. 
Brooks,  Rev.  Dr.  Cyrus,  320. 
Brooks,  David,  261. 
Brott,  G.  F,,  106,  121,  166,  168,   170, 

207,  225,  245,  260. 
Brown,  Rev.  W.  P.,  92,  108. 
m    Brown,  James,  26,  192,  205. 

Brown,  C.  A.,  91,  144,  154,  205. 
Brown,    Isaac,     130,     138,    146,  148, 
162,  164,   183,   192,  241,  261,  287, 
236. 
Brown,  J.  H.,  161,  193,  204,  215. 
Brown,    Z.    M.,    143,    150,     162,  204, 

212,  236,  291. 
Brown,  Geo.  A.,  242. 
Brown,  Otis  H.,  252. 
Firown,  S.,  253. 
Brown,  Baldwin,  339. 
Brown,  lohn  W.,  187. 
Brown,  B..  92,  162. 


Brown,  Robert  W.,  318. 

Brown,  W.  R.,  215. 

Brow  n,  Henry  F  ,  383. 

Brown,    J.    R.,    130,    138,    140,    148, 

162,  164,  183,  192,  241,  216,  287, 

336. 
Brunius,  John  C,  383. 
Brj'ant,  Robert  R.,  289,  295. 
Buck,  J.  W.,  252. 
Buck,  B,  F.,  383. 
Buck,  C.  F.,  282. 
Buckendorf,  Wm.,  307. 
Buckner,  S.  B.,  25,  26,  161. 
Bull,  B.  F.,  320. 
Burfield,  Isaac,  292. 
Burke,  Edmund,  253. 
Bushnell,  Rev.  Dr.  Horace,  325. 
Burlingham,    Hiram,    144,    152,    192, 

205,  231. 
Burroughs,  Ira,  91,  213. 
Bushnell,  Chester,  277. 
Butler,  Dr.  Levi,  327,  337,  361. 
Butler,  H.  C,  307. 
Byrnes,  Wm.,  143. 
Byrnes,  James,  143. 
Cahill,  W.  F.,  237. 
Califf,  John,  235,  276. 
Campbell,  B.  H.,  4. 
Campbell,  Geo.  W.,  215. 
Camp,    Geo.    A.,    145,  162,  203,  215, 

228,  315,  360. 
Canney,  Mrs.  J.  H.,  335. 
Canney,    J.    H.,    151,    192,  208,   241, 

242. 
Carpenter,  H.  M.,  316,  323. 
Carpenter,  Walter,  305. 
Carman,  I^Iiss  Mary,  244. 
Carman,  John,  252. 
Carothers.  W.  M.,  318. 
Case,  James  Gale,  140,  161. 
Case,    Col.    E.,    115,    140,    146,    161, 

180,  188,  203,  205,  208,  213,  242, 

259. 
Case,  S.  W.,  115,  140,  142,  148,  161, 

192,  203,  257. 
Case,  Chas.,  162. 
Case,  Geo.  E.,  161. 
Case,  Mrs.  S.  W.,  242. 
Oathcart,  John,  241. 
Cavender,  A.  H.,  11. 
Chafiee,  Rev.  J,  F.,  307,  315,   329. 
Chaffee,  A.  B.,  292. 
Chaffee,  Mrs.  C,  351. 
Chaffee,  Richard  M.,  319. 
Chalmers,  Fred,  295,  305,  307,  332. 
Chamberlain,    Rev.    J.    S.,    108,    182, 

199,  209,  225,   278. 
Chamberlain,  W.  H.,  307. 
Chambers,  Wm.,  186,  192,   204,  205, 
•    208. 

Chambers,  Gen.  Ale.x.,  332. 
Chambers,  Thos.,  92,  211,   274. 
Champlin,  O.  R.,  253. 
Chandler,  C,  383. 
Chapman,  C,   B.,  222,  224. 
Chapman,    Wm.    S.,    267,    293,  328, 

Charlton,  David,  295,  311,  318. 

Chase,  Josiah  H.,  395,  307,  323. 

Chase,  Jonathan,  299,  304,  323. 

Chase,  "S.   P.,  310. 

Chase,  Chas.  L.,  255,  299,  300. 

Chatel,  Victor,   186,   235. 

Chatfield,    A,    G.,    29,  145.  197,  200, 

205,   208,   215,   230,  417. 
Chatfield,  Mrs.  E.   E.,  418. 
Cheslev  Bros.,  383. 
Chcever,  W.  A.,  16.  120,  158,  207. 


IM»KX. 


lU 


Choweti,  c.  w.,    '.)i.',   i'+7,  .it*,  :;.ti), 

333,   359,   301,   3H(). 
Chowcn,  Joscjjh  II.,  1!.")1. 
Chowcn,  Wni.  S.,  :ir>l.  30+. 
Chowcn,  Mrs.  (Uo.  W.,  381. 
Christmas,  C.  %V.,  OL',   118,   130,   14.1, 

183,  204.,  205.  2i;7,   233,   24-1,   290. 
Chubb,  Prentice,  383. 
Chubb,  John  H.,  383. 
Church,  Calvin,   14-5,  15t",,  i<.rj,   i'.-,<). 
Chute,  Mrs.  S.  H.,  313. 
Chute,  Dr.  S.  H.,  311,  319,   324-,  333, 

334. 
Chute,  Richard,    277,    283,    289,  291. 

298,   308.   310,  333. 
Clark.  Amos,  209,  308,  319,  328. 
Clark,  Edwin,  302,  3()3,  307.  320. 
Clark,  Miss  Sarah,  244-. 
Clark,  J.  II.  252. 
Clark,    Malcomb,  274. 
Clark.  Chas.,  288.  310. 
Clark,  Chas.  H.,  288,   3H>. 
Clark,  Miss,  335. 
Cleveland,  A.,  200,   209,  275.   32K. 
Cleveland.   Miss  Sarah.   315. 
Clement,  Col.  A.  A..  327. 
Clipper,  Rev.  John  W.,  329. 
Cloutier,  B.,  10.  117.  176,  207, 
Clouj^h,  Gilbert,  307. 
Clough,  D.  M..  307. 
Cobb,  Amasa,  429. 
Cobb,  Rev.  U.,  380. 
Cobb,  S.,  92,  292. 
Coates,  Mrs.  Sarah,  159. 
Cochrane,  Louisa  B..  240, 
Cochrane,  Patrick,  280. 
Coleman,  J.,  30G. 
Cole,  Henry,  120. 
Colbiirn,  Samuel,  25,3. 
Collins,  Rev.  225. 
Combs,  Albert  W.,   3O0. 
Connor,  Thos,  68. 
Connor,  E.  H.,  16,   110,   224. 
Connelly,  A.  P.,   315. 
Conzett,  Martin,  292. 
Coolbaugh,     I).    M.,    136,     146,     156, 

202,  203,   204.,   236,   242,   261,  309, 

318 
Coolbaugh,  Rev.  Frank  C.  156.  392. 
Coolbaugh.  Miss  Marian.  207. 
Cook,  Franklin,  303.  304.  314.  380. 
Cook,  S.  F.,  210. 
Cook,  Rufus,  31 0. 
Cook,  M.  S.,  252. 
Cooper.  David.  100. 
Cornell,  \Vm.  B.,  295. 
Cornell,  Mrs.  F.  R.  E.,  3(;(). 
Cornell,    F.   R.   E.,  31.   221.  246.   279, 

290,  291.   309,   312,   318,  319,   320, 

325,  329,   330,  336. 
Cossett,  Levi,  310. 
Couilland,  C.  244.  251.   292. 
Crafts,  Amasa,  144,   155,  242. 
Crarv,  Rev.  Dr.  B.  F.,   216. 
Candall,  D.  C,   219. 
Crane,  E.  F.,   276. 
Crawford,  C,   327,  328. 
Crepau,  F.  X.,   91.   144,   150. 
Cressev,  Rev.  E.  W.,  30,  277. 
Cressej-,  E.  T.,  382. 
Crocker,  N.,   252. 

Croffutt,  W.  A.,  302.  306.   3<»7.  322, 
Crowell,  S.  S.,  145.  156,  276,  311. 
Cummings.  A.  L.,   192,  204. 
Cummings,    Robt.   W.,    16,    120,   147, 

158,  176,  212.  255,  263.  292,  3is. 

325,  327. 
Cummings.  I.  \V.,  383. 


Curtis, Orrin,310.  :!17,  .".I.s,  .319,  328, 
332. 
,  Curtis,  T.  L.,  359. 
I  Cushman,  C.  M.,   316,  323. 
I  Cutler,  R.,  245,  254. 

Cutter,  E.  W..  327,  3t;i. 

Cyphers,  I.  311. 

Daniels,  Chas.  L,,  289. 

Dana,  (ieneral,  4-1. 

I  la  vie,  E.  H,,  235,  242,  276,  289,  335. 

Davie,  Mrs.  E.  A.,  360. 

Davis,  Geo.  162,  316. 

Davidson,  C.  D.,  295. 

Dav,  Geo.  E.  H.,    278,  288,   330,  335. 
I  Dav,  Aggie,  319. 
'  Dav.  \Y.  P..  91. 

Dav.  David,  10,   23.   30.   191. 

Dav,  Leonard  &  Sons,   134,  162,   303, 
309. 

Dean,  Mrs.  Joseph,  207. 

Dean,  F.  B.,  383. 

Dean,    Jos.,    92,     104,   119,   183,   186. 
192,  204.  213,  225,  289,  311.  322. 

DeKay,  Isaac  W.,  237. 

Desjarlais,  Moses,  219. 

Demmon,  Jared  S.,  294.,  307.  359. 

Demmon,  Dan  M..  294,  307,  312,360. 

Devorv,  Patrick,  253. 

Dibb,  Dr.  \V.  D..  315. 

Dickie,  Wm..  143,  152,  180,  187,  241. 

Dinsmore.  J.  A.,    145,  205,  218,  243, 
291,  292. 

Dinsmore,  Wm.,  292. 

Dodd.  B.  \V..   257. 

Dodge.  Gen.  Henrj-.  2. 

Dodge,  A.  R.,  193,   208,   22+.   240. 

Donnelly,  Ignativis,  411 . 

Dorman,  Ezra,  175. 

Dornmn,  D.  B.,  321,  361. 

Dorman,  Israel,  306. 

Dorr,  John  W.,  205. 

Dorr,  A.  H.,  91,  182. 

Dorr.  Caleb  I)..  16,  170,  172,  263. 

Dow,  Rev.  J.  \V.,  187,  207,  208,  292, 
311. 

Downs,  John,  336. 

Downs,  Z.,  291. 

Downs,  Henrv .  336. 

Downs,  Thos.,  336. 

Dow,  E.  C,  218. 

Drake.  E.  F.,  110. 

Draper,  Joshua,  144,  226,  310. 

Draper,  Isaac  V..  164,  205. 

Dudlev,  John,  383. 

Dugas",  AVm.,  93,  1  20,  204. 

Dugan,  AVm.  J.,  21.S. 

Dugan,  John.  264. 

Dunnington,  R.  P..  295. 

Duhren,  F..  291. 

Durfee,  Peter.  383. 

Durman,  John  M.,  190.  219.  292. 

Dutoit.  Fred,  383. 

Dutton,  Josiah,  187.  219. 

Dutton.  G.  B..  162.  191.  212. 

Dwindle.  Wm..  192.  _^ 

Eastman,  W.  W.,    239.  256.  305,  312^ 

Ebinger,  Jac(.)b,  3.83. 

Edwards,  Isaac  B.,  247,  265.  328. 

Edwards.  David.  277.  278.  289,  298, 
319,  326,  333. 

Elliott,  Mrs.  D.,  242. 

Elliott.  Dr.  J.  S..  229,   130,   248,   232, 
274.  2.S4,   309.   303.   315. 

Elliott.  Daniel.  129.  248. 

Elliott.  Wvman.  129.  248.  309,  360. 

Elliott,  Dr.  A.  F.,  248. 

Elliott,  J.  R.,  24.'<. 

Elliott,  Frank,  248. 


IV 


INDEX. 


Elliott,  Rev.  Henrv,  293,  383. 

Elliott,  Miss  Nellie,  318,  360,  381. 

Ellis,  Jas.  W.,  312. 

Ellsworth,  E.,  383. 

Elwell,  Talmage.  179,  182,  224,  239, 

242,  425. 
Ellsworth,  Clark,  253. 
Emerv,  Colbv,  219. 
Ende,  August,  295. 
Eschlie,  Henry,  300. 
Estes,  Jonathan,  196. 
Estes,  Levi,  318. 
Eustis,  J.  M.,  303,  335. 
Evans,  Wm.  E.,  253,  292. 
Ewing,  Wm.  M.,  187,  253. 
Fall,  James,  319. 
Farnham,  Rufus,  91,  164. 
Famham,  Rtiftis,  Jr.,  91,  219. 
Farnham,  Mrs.  S.  W.,  313. 
Famham,  S.    W.,    16,  121.  213,  263, 

291,  317,   361. 
Faribault,  J.  B.,  48,  167. 
Faribault,  Alex.,  131. 
Farington,  Chas.  W.,    144,  150,  204, 

205     254. 
Farington,  Geo.  W.,  259. 
Fell,  Dr.  V.,  162,  164. 
Femald,  S.,  91. 
Ferguson,  Wm.  H..  252. 

Ferrant,  Martin,  289,  328. 

Fewer,  Richard,  224,  312,  327,  333. 

Fillmore,  S    L.,  337. 

Fisk,  Woodburv,  302. 

Fitzgerald,  Paul,  317. 

Findlej',  S.  J.,  48,  65. 

Finch,  Wm.,  92,  145,  207,  292,  327, 
330,  336,  361. 

Fletcher,  Dr.  H.,  108,  121,  129,  138, 
150,  164,  192,  205,  207,  210,  213, 
225,  226,  227,  230,  260,  279,  287, 
291,  310,  318,   327. 

Fletcher,  Asa,  144,  150,  162. 

Fletcher,  Timothy,  144. 

Fletcher,  C.  E.,  144,  282,  302. 

Fletcher,  Airs.  Dr.  H.,  329. 

Fletcher,  Loren,  329,  336. 

Folsom,  S.  P.,  11,  99,  100,  102. 

Folsom,  W.  H.  C,  68. 

Folsom,  Edgar,  16,  119,  134,  142, 
152,  190. 

Folsom,  John,  383. 

Folsom,  D.,  335.  , 

Folsom,  Prof.  S.  H.  314. 

Ford,  Dennis,  253. 

Ford,  L.  M.,  310,  332. 

Ford,  L.,  328. 

Foster,  A.  J.,  91,  144,  151,  190. 

Foster,  A.  D.,  16,  182. 

Foster,  S.  E.,  92,  164,  224. 

Foster,  Ezra,  162,  205. 

Foster,  L.  A.,  190. 

Foster,  Thos.,  215. 

Foster,  L.  P.,  315,  319. 

Foster,  J.  C,  319. 

foster,  Mrs.  A.  D.,  360. 
owler,  Henry,  107. 
Fowler,  Wm.,  282. 
Fraker,  Philip,  162. 
Franklin,  Samuel,  291. 
French,  A.  F.,  252. 
French,  Adolphus  K.,  398. 
F'reeborn,  Wm.,  282. 
Fridley,    A.    M.,    145,  210,  245,  254, 

2.57 '2.59    285    292. 
Fridley7jas."H.,'l937' 
Furbcr,  J.  W.,  42,  192. 
Gale,    S.     C,    307,     313,     315,     329, 
359. 


Gale,  Harlow  A.,  138,  235,  295,  319,. 

322,  326,  329,  330,  380. 
Gale,  Rev.  A.,  301,  310. 
Gale,  Mrs.  Harlow  A.,  360. 
Gale  &  King,  328. 
Galpin,  Rev.  Geo.,  200,  328. 
Galpin,    Rev.    Chas.,    200,    207,    218, 

240. 
Garcelon,  Wm.,  307. 
Gardner,  C,  152,  206,  210,  226. 
Gardner,  Thos.,  307. 
Gardner.  Chas.,  224. 
Gardner,  Mrs.,  279. 
Garland,  W.  D.,  190,  284,  311. 
Garrity,  John,  192. 
Garty,  John,  187. 
Garrison,  O.  E.,  186,  208. 
Garvais,  L.  P.,  187. 
Garvey,  C.  C,  145,  186. 
Gear,  John  H.,  32,  43. 
Gear.  Dr.  E.  G.,  26,  32,  73,  108,  143. 
George,  Henry,  219. 
Gelinas,  Anthonj',  219. 
Getchell,    W.  W.,    16,    192,    205,  208,. 

383 
Getchell,  W.  M.,  91. 

Getchell,  Washington.  161,  164,  186, 

Getchell,  Mrs.  Perrin,  160. 

Getchell,  Winslow,  186,  205. 

Getchell,  M.  W.,  292,  321. 

Getchell,  Geo.  W.,  204. 

Getchell,  John  H.,  383. 

Gibson,  Paris,  307,  361. 

Gibson,  R.  B.,  92,  186,  192,  205,  208,. 
304. 

Gibson  &  Eastman,  335. 

Gideon,  Peter  M.,  200,  218,  221,  292.. 

Gilbert,  J.  B.,  207,  254,  260,  262,278, 
312,  319,  334. 

Gilbert.  G.  K,,  383. 

Gillenbeck,  G.  W.,  26. 

Gillam,  J.  W.,  292. 

Gilfillan,  John  B.,    299,  321,  326,  380. 

Gillespie,  J.,  223. 

Gillespie,  C,  219. 

Gillick,  Lawrence,  383. 

Gilman,  J.  M.,  310.       - 

Gilmore,  Geo.,  244,  292. 

Gilpatrick,  C,  92,  144,  151. 

Gilpatrick,  Isaac,  91,  190. 

Gluck,  J.  G.,  307. 

Godfrev,  Ard.,  13,  82,  105,  144,  146. 
154,  166,  209,   237. 

Godfrey,  Rev.  A.  C,  156,  162,  207. 

Godfrey,  Mrs.  Ard,,  360. 

Godfrey,  Abner,  151. 

Godine,  Paul,  219. 

Goodenough.  John,  383. 

Godley,  Mrs.  Geo.,  381. 

Gonzales,  Capt.,  318. 

Goodhue,  Jas.  M.,  32,  42,  83,  97,  100, 
115,  128,  178. 

Goodrich,  S.  A.,  186,  204. 

Goodrich.  A.  L.,  186,  192. 

Goodrich,  E.  A.,  237. 

Goodrich,  Aaron,  422. 

Goodale,  John  W.,  219. 

Goodell,  E.  A..  381. 

Goodyear,  C,  B.,  310. 

Goodwin,  Wm.,  144,  151,  162. 

Gorman,  W.  A.,  215. 

Goi-man,  P.,  232. 

Gordon,  Mrs.,  186. 

Gossard,  Rev.  T.  M.,  311. 

Gorham,  David.  143,  154,  183.  253. 

Gould,  Chessman,  159,  162,  203. 

Gould,  Leonard,  159,  162. 

Gould,  A.,  275,  314. 


INDEX. 


Craves,  R.  R.,  324-,  S^d. 

Graves,  Edwin,  303. 

Graves,  Mrs.  R.  B.,  313. 

Gray,  A.  N.,  UIH,  251. 

Grav,  J.  D.,  329. 

Grav.  Thos.  K.,  29.5. 

Grav,  Ralph  I,  383. 

Greelv,  H.,  69,  71. 

Gregory,  M.  C.  2+3. 

Gregory,  C,  2+4-. 

Greclc}-,  Iloraee,  404-. 

Greelv,  M.  R.,  315,  301. 

Green,  John,  143. 

Green,  Jos.,  253. 

Green,  J.  H.,  359. 

Greenwood,  Udward,  219. 

Grethen,  Anthonv,  30G,  307. 

Greincr,  Fred,  383. 

Griffin,  L.  H.,  293,  383. 

Griffin,  \V.  A..  383. 

Griswold,  Rev.  F.  A.,  310. 

Griffith,  T.  AI.,  237,  255,  260. 

Griffith,  L.,  199. 

Grimshaw,  R.  li.,  293,  383. 

Grimes,  J.  T.,  311. 

Grover,  N.  S.,  187. 

Guard,  Leonard,  383. 

Haeg,  C,  26,  218. 

Haeg,  v.,  26. 

Hael,  L.,  156. 

Hall,  Edward  1...    108,  162,  190,  193, 

208,  224,  263. 
Hall,  Rev.  S.,  230. 
Hall,  Kate  H.,  315. 
Hamlin,  Mrs.  H.  O.,  381. 
Hamlin,  H.  O.,  314,  330,  336. 
Hamlin,  E.  O.,  326. 
Hamilton,  \Vm.,  192. 
Hamer,  Collins,  319,    322,    326,    329, 

334 
Hankinson,  John,  383. 
Hankinson,  Joseph,  383.  , 

Hankinson,  Isaac,  383. 
Hankinson,  Thos.,  383. 
Hankinson,  James,  383. 
Hanson,  Wm.,  145,  156,  220,  243. 
Hanson,  Gilbert.  186,  221. 
Hanson,  Randall,  221. 
Hanson,  U.    M.,    205,    207,  220,  227, 

241,  246,   257,   273,  275,   283. 
Hanscome,  F.  W.'  383. 
Hanscome,  Ezra.  92,  187,  205,  230. 
Hancock,  Gen.  \V.  S.,  5. 
Hancock,  H.  B,,  271,  277,  325. 
Hancock  &  Thomas,  289. 
Harmon,  E.  A.,  92. 
Harmon,  C,  92. 
Harmon,    Allen,    92.    133,    148,  170, 

188,  192,  205,  207,  226,  242,  243, 

275,  291,  310,  318,  325. 
Harmon,  A.  B.,  318. 
Harmon,  C.  F.,  93. 
Harmon,  Wm.,  92,  310. 
Harmon,  Miss  Abbj-,  381. 
Harrington,  Lewis.  275,  293,  383.      ' 
Harrington,  Wm.  B..  218,  221,  292. 
Harrington,  John,  221. 
Harrington,  \Ym.  H.,  221. 
Harrington,  John  S.,  250,  292. 
Harris,  L.  F.,  298. 
Harris,  Miss  H.  E.,  311. 
Harris,  Capt.  D.  S.,  159. 
Harris,  Rev..  207,  219. 
Harris,  Chas.  N.,  216. 
Harris,  Geo.,  383. 
Harff,  Matthias,  253. 
Hawkins,  Miss,  L.  F.,  360. 
Hartwell,  J.  W.,  383. 


HartwcU,  A.  K,  145,    156,    19o.  236, 

259. 
Harnev,  Wm.,  252. 
Harrison,  J.  V.,  270. 
Harrison,  T.  A.,  335. 
Harrison  Bros.,  323. 
Harrison,  Hugh  G.,  361. 
Haskell,  Jos.,  197. 
H.-ithawav,  Mrs.  Mary  Jane,  2S6. 
H:itch,  Dr.  I'hilo  L.,  311,  315. 
llayden.  Rev.  \V.,  253,  298,   r;0().  ."..•'.(). 
Hawkes,  James,  2.51. 
Ilazelton,  James,  253. 
Haves,  Moses,  278. 
Heap,  Hcnrv,  143,  153. 
Heaton,    David,    303,  307,  .".14,  .'522, 

330,  333,  336,  380. 
Heaton,  Miss  Hattie.  319. 
Hedderly,  Edwin,  137,  138,  157,180, 

183,   192,   211,  261,   309,  311,  335 
HelTelfinger,  C.  B.,  309,  361. 
Hemiup,    N.    H.,    175,  255,   282,   289, 

298,  .308,  325,  336. 
Henderson,  Miss,  224. 
Henry,  L.  W.,  289,  295. 
Henry,  Chas.,  3.34. 
Henry,  John,  326. 
Hepp,  Chas.,  293. 
Herrick,  Nathan,  307,  336. 
Herrick,  Rev.  H.  N.,  359. 
Hetchman,  Henry,  299,  325,  327. 
Hickey,  M.,  194. 
Hicks,  Harvey,  253. 
Hidden,  Samuel,  236,  273,  287, 

298,  300,  308,   310,  315,  317, 
Hildreth,  B.  F.,  162. 
Hill,  Henrv,  310,  312. 
Hinkston,  John,  92,  332. 
Hinkley,   J.    B.,    292,    304,    327, 

336. 
Hinks,  B.  F.,  307. 
Hoag,  Chas.,  31,  136,  180,  185, 

208,   208,   209,   226.  240,   243, 

279,   291,  311,   325,   326,   330. 
Hoy,  Michael,  307. 
Hoblet,  Nelson  S.,  314,  326. 
Hoblett,  Miss  Lillie,  360. 
Hodson,    E.  A.,    144,    152,    203, 

291. 

Hoffman,  James,  392. 
Hoisington,  E.,  252. 
Hollister,  S.,  107,  190,  209,  264. 
Holcomb,  Wm.,  65,  214. 
Holman,  Miss  Lucy  D.,  279. 
Holt,  Jos.,  219,  243. 
Holt,  A.,  219. 
Holmes,  Jas.,  312. 
Holmes,  Stephen,  383. 
Holmes,  Enoch,  383. 
Hopkins.  H.  H.,  322. 
Hopper  &  Gould,  328. 
Horton,  M.  B.,  310. 
Hotchkiss,  Mrs.  W.  A.,  242,  248. 
Hotchkiss,  W.  A.,  240,  257,   258,  273, 

277,  288,  291.  k 

Huot,  F.,  91,  253,  306. 
Howe,  Eben,  92,  237. 
Howe,  Asa,  219. 
Howe,  C.  R.,  219. 
Howe,  Jas.  H..  253. 
Hoyt,  A.  N.,   104,   204,  208,  211,  214, 

235,  241. 
Hoyt,  B.  F.,  215. 
Hovt,  Miss,  335. 
Howlett,  Jas.  P..  315,  234,  361. 
Hubbard,  John,  293. 
Hul)bard,  G.  B.,  255. 
1  Hiift".  Miss  Marv,  245. 


289, 
378. 


192, 
259, 
332. 


259, 


Yl 


INDEX. 


Hughes,  James,  253,  254. 

Huse,  Sanford,  181. 

Huse.  S.,  16,  119. 

Hull,  Stephen,  208,  218,  222. 

Hunt,  Thos.  B.,  186. 

Hunt,  James  B.,  270. 

Hutchins,  Chandler,  142,  151,  192. 

Hutchins,  Cyrus,  205. 

Huy,    Geo.    E.,    143,    145,  154,  190. 

232,  235,  240,  241,  273,  284,  303, 

309,  312. 
Hutchinson,  John  W.,  280,  383,  423. 
Hutchinson,  Asa  B..  280,  383,  423. 
Hutchinson,  Judson,  280. 
Hutchinson,  John,  333. 
Hyde,  L.  Mell.,  207. 
Irvine.  John  R.,  215. 
Irvin,  Robert  J.,  190. 
Irvin,  Geo,  \V  ,  306. 
Jackins,  John,  91,  130,  183,  184,  192, 

227,  236,  573,  289,  298. 
Jackins,  Gordon,  145,  156. 
Jackins  &  Wright,  289,  308. 
Jarrett,  J.  M.,  119,  162,  292,  305. 
Jarvis,  Louis  P.,  69,  253. 
Jefferson,  R.  H,,  204. 
Jefferson,  Miss  Adeline,  311. 
Jennison,  A.  H..  383. 
Jennison,  Chas.,  383. 
Jenkins,  Sylvanus,  161,  219,  242. 
Jenkins,  Norman,    161,  192,  205,  219, 

275. 
Jenks,'c.  C,  183,  187,  188.  204. 
Jewett,  S.  A.,  150,  287,  310. 
Jodon,  Dr.  C,  225,  315,  318. 
Johnson,  Dr.    A.    E.,    216,    225,    290, 

381 
Johnson,  D.  S.  B.,  278,  305,  316. 
Johnson,  Gen.  R.  W.,    36,  43,  73,  112, 

394. 
Johnson,  Jos.  S.,  144,  150,    241,    275, 

287. 
Johnson,  Parsons  K.,  11. 
Johnson,  W.  R.,  328. 
Johnson,  C.  W.,  382. 
Johnson,  Chas.,  383. 
Jones,  Mrs.  W.  E.,  156. 
Jones,  J.  P.,  4. 
Jones    \Vm.  E.,  192,  323. 
Jones,  Wm.,  192. 
Jones   Judge  E.  S.,255,  298,  304,  310, 

326,  327,  333.  , 
Jones,  D.  Y.,  289,  307,  328. 
Jones,  S.  H.,  289. 
Jones,  Jesse  G.,  307. 
Jones,  J.  H.,  335,  359. 
Jones,  Miss  Sarah  L.,  335. 
Jorgenson,  Alex.,  383. 
Judd.  Walker  &  Co.,  66. 
Judd,  B.  S.,  200. 
Judd,  Wm,  S.,  200. 
Kassula  Bros.,  252. 
Kean,  W.  H.,  190. 

Keith,  Henry  C,  144,   151,    242,  291, 
g  310 
Keith,    Dr.    Geo.    H.,    235,  288,  304, 

309,  310,  315,  319,-335,  359. 
Keith,  Asa,  276,  29i,  298. 
Kellogg,  M.  N.,  26. 
Kelly,  O.  H.,  114,  421. 
Kelly,  P.  H.,  307,  309.  323,  358,  361. 
Kelly,  Anthony,  307,  323,  358. 
Kellogg,  N.,  325. 
Kennedy,  J.  J.,  224,  259,  276. 
Kennedy,  Miss,  278. 
Kennedy,  Dr.  R.  M.,  383. 
Kcssler,  Jos.,  209. 
Kimball,"  A.  C,  292,  306. 


Kimball,  Wm.  M.,  306,  308,  317,324, 

326,  327. 
King,  Chas.,  190,  207,  209. 
King,  Mrs.  A..  211,  224. 
King,  S.  H.,  330. 
King,  Dana  E.,  335. 
King,  O.  B.,  335. 
King,  J.  B.,  337. 
King,  Thos.  S.,  381. 
King,  Wm.  S.,  320,  329,  359,  383. 
Kingsley,  C,  91,  108,  292. 
Kingsley,  Dr.  Ira,    92,  108,  115,  121. 

204,  210,  225,  263. 
Kissel,  Prof.  A.  S.,  204. 
Kittson,  N.  W.,  30,  35,  48,  166. 
Kirkham,  R.  W.,  25,  76,  161. 
Knight,  Miss  Mary  L.,  278. 
Knickerbocker,    D.  B.,  289,  295,  310, 

311,  318,  322,  335. 
Knott,  Francis,  192. 
Knoblaugh,  Anton,  383. 
Knowlton,  Wiram,  73,  103. 
Kopp,  Casper,  190. 
Krayenbuhl,  G.,  483. 
Lobstiniere,  Isaac,  253. 
Landri,  C,  15. 
Lane,  Silas,  91. 
Lane,  Isaac  E.,  91.  392. 
Langley  Bros,  383. 
Lambert,  Edviard,  383. 
Larned,  W.  L.,  92,  120,  121,  191. 
Larpentuer,  A.  L.,  11. 
Laschelles,  Wm.,  300,  319,  360. 
Lauderdale,  W.  H.,  242,  248,  307. 
Lavallee,  D.aniel,  219. 
Laraway,  O.  M.,  306,  308,    329,  332, 

359. 
Lawrence,  Jas.  W.,  305,  307. 
Lawrence,  J.  C,  162. 
Lawrence,  James   R.,  302,   303,    304, 

307,  312.  328. 
Layman,  Martin,  141,  148,  241,   359. 
Lawretice,  S.,  314. 
Lay,  Capt.  Geo.  W.,  11,  41. 
Learning,  Alonzo,  291. 
Lecount,  Antoine,  219. 
Ledon,  Rev.,  225,  238. 
LeDuc,  W.  G.,  165,  190,  428. 
LeDuc.J.,  92,162,  211,  239,  270,  276, 

289,  291,  310,  327. 
Lee,  John,  328,  383. 
Lennon,  J.  G.,110,  115,  142,149,168, 

169,  203,  207,  224,  266. 
Lennon,  Jas.  A.,  143,  153,  224. 
Leonard,    Dr.    W.    H.,    272,  229,  310, 

315,  358. 
LeBoutillier,    Dr.    C.    W.,    278,    291, 

315,  325. 
Levillier,  Benj.,  219. 
Lewis,  Eli  F,,  91,  139,  213. 
Lewis,  David,  333. 
Lewis,  I.    I.,    91,  138,  139,  141,  176, 

207,  216,  235,  241,  289,  291,  311, 

312. 
'Lewis,  Samuel  A.,  319. 
Libby,  Jos.,  120. 
Libby,  Miss  Lydia,  238. 
Linton,  T.  N.,  295. 
Lind,  Dr.  J.  J.,  381. 
Little,  Henry,  383. 
Linlithgow,  Wm.,  218,  222. 
Lippincott,    Edward,    162,  207,  224, 

263,  298,  360. 
Livingston,  David,  186. 
Loomis,  C.  E.,  115. 

Loomis,  G.  G.,92,  120,  164,  191,  298. 
Loomis,  D.  B.,  65. 
Longfellow  Bros.,  204. 


INDEX. 


Vll 


\ 


I-onKicllow,  Jacol),  180,  1.'04-,  219. 

UonKlillOw.Ucvi,  383. 

LoriiiK,  C.  .M.,  336. 

Ludden,  John  I).,  30,  65. 

Lull,  C.  F.  v.,  11. 

Leonard,  C.  Iv.,  liOl. 

Lochri-n,  Wni.,  307,  3127,  360. 

Lowell,  Richard,  190. 

Louden,  J.  K..  383. 

Lovejov,  John  L.,  330. 

Loye,  S.  H.,  307. 

Lyons,  Michael,  307. 

Ludluni,  lohn,  383. 

Lyman,  H.  M.,  200,  293. 

Macdonalcl,  John  L.,  337. 

Macfarland,  A.  RI.,  100. 

Malouv,  K.  C,  227. 

Malborn,  J.  S.,  219,  319. 

Manton,  Kev.  J.  K.,  328. 

Manseiir,  C,,  92,  106,  153. 

Mann,  John,  231. 

Mann,  H.  E.,  303,  322,  381. 

Mann,  J.  S.,    92,   14-3,  152,  183,  192, 

207,  213. 
Marr,  E.   \V.,  284. 
Martin,  Capt.  John,  254-,  260,  383. 
Martin,  Richard,  278,  331. 
Marshall,  Win.  R.,  16,  43,  73,  93,  109, 

115,  118.   105,  227,  230,  239,263, 

394. 
Marshall,  Jos.  M.,  16,  91,  93. 
Marchant,  David,  253. 
Mattson,  S.  H.,  335,  356,  380. 
Mason,  S.  J.,  259. 
Masservey,  Alphonso,  253. 
Mayall,  Samuel,  265. 
Mayall,  J.  H.,  265. 
Menard,  Jos.,  141,    162. 
Merrill,    E.    \V.,    92,    160.    162,    165, 

170,  174,  203,  275,   282. 
Meeker,    B.    B.,    16,    34,    67,  91,  119, 

192,  228,  242,  259,  285,  300,  321, 

417. 
Meniper,  Henry,  291. 
Mendenhall,  R.  J.,295,  306,  318,  359, 

380,  381. 
Merz,  Jo.s.,  219. 
Merz,  John,  219. 
Merriman,  O.  C,  323,  328,  333,  334, 

360. 
Messer,    B.    E..    182,    205,  207,  210, 

219,  224,  240,  241,  264,  293,  300, 

383. 
McComber,  Wyman,  187. 
McCabe,  M.,  218. 
McCabe,  John.  219. 
McCausland,  E.,  219. 
McCain,  Mrs.  S.,  224. 
McCain,  J.  C,  224. 
McAIpin,  Jos.,  224. 
McLaughlin,  Miss  Augusta,  244. 
McFarlane,  W.  K.,  271,  295,  318. 
McClarv,  Jas.  B.,  383. 
McCIarv,  Rev.  Thos.,  383. 
AIcDotigall  Bros.,  383. 
McGalpin,  John,  186. 
McKcen,  Elias,  65. 
McKusick,  John,  65. 
McMullen.tas.,  91,  110,  164. 
McLeod,  Martin,  30,  37,  48,  131,  132, 

133.  166,  186,  190,  265,  276,  319, 

330,  345. 
McLeod,     Rev.    Norman,     295,     310, 

323. 
Mcleod,  Geo.  H.,  215. 
McOarrv,  John  H.,  252. 
McNair.  \V.  \V..  307,  330,  381. 
McKernun,  Peter,  307. 


McCarnard,  J.  C*.,  304. 

McBurncv.  Thos,,  273. 

McClelland,  John,  283,  383. 

McClelland,  H.  C,  383. 

Mc(;hee,  A.  F.,  284. 

McKean,  John  V.,  383. 

McCann,  J.  C,  292,  333. 

McHerrin,  Win.,  318. 

McLean,  N.,  29,  37,  64,  180. 

McKenzie,  E.  G.,  162. 

McGalpin,  John,  186. 

McGrath,  R.  H.,  199,  218,  314. 

McKinney,  R.  E.,  218. 

Miles,  C,  92. 

Mills,  Arthur  H.,    144,  154,  161,  305. 

Mills,  E.  P.,  162,  164,  170,  192,  224-. 

Mills,  J.  B.,  162,  248. 

Mills,  Rev.,  261. 

Miles,  Chas.,  187,  241. 

Miller,  Robert.  292. 

Miller,  R.  H.,  219. 

Miller,  J,  P,,  126,  191,  192,  197,  205, 

218. 
Miller,  J..  328. 
Miller,  Stephen,  406. 
Moore,  Joshua,  200. 
Moore,  Ale.x.,  140,  183,  203,305,304, 

308. 
Moore,  G.  W.,  78. 
Moore,  W^m.,  214. 
Moore,  D.  S.,  255. 
Moores,  Hason,  68. 
Mowers  Bro.->.,  65. 
Mower,  M.,  68. 
Moulton,  J.  H.,  92,  119. 
Moulton,  Elijah,  91. 
Moffit,  Willis  G.,  145,  155,  192,  218. 
Moftit,  Wm.  G.,    145,    155,  162,    205, 

291. 
Moffit,  Miss,  207. 
Moffett,  Job,  252. 
Morgan,  Geo.  N.,  318,  334,  361. 
Morgan,    David,     Minneapolis,     283, 

300,  304,  321,  326,  327,  333,  335, 

359. 
Morgan,  A.  J.,  290. 
Morgan,  David,  Brooklyn,  219. 
Morgan,  Miss  Lucv,  360. 
Molan,  John,  306." 
Morrill,  Maj.  A.  C,  307,  314. 
Morrison,  Adam,  236. 
Morrison,  H.  G.  O.,  278,  283,  291. 
Morrison,  Clinton,  285. 
Morrison,  Dorillus,     144,     256,     277, 

284,  289,  298,  303,  306,  308,  309, 

312,  317,  361. 
Morrison,  Francis,  187,  209,  264. 
Morrison,  Mrs.  A.,  236. 
Morrison,  Mrs.  Dorillus,  360,  381. 
Morrison,  Miss  Jane,  315. 
Moses,  Elias,  295. 
Moulton,    D.  E.,  151,  160,  169,   201, 

224,  319. 
Moss,  H.  L.,  192. 
Morse,  Frank  L.,  316. 
Mitchell,  John,  186,  192,  205,  231. 
Mitchell.  Samuel,  186. 
Morris,  W.  I)..  243. 
Mountain.  Jas.,  180,  192,  204. 
Mosicr,  Geo.,  253. 
Moseau,  Chas.,  124,  143.  192. 
Murphv.  A.  C.  92,  144,  152,  310. 
Murphv,  Dr.  J.  H.,  11,  104,  105,  108, 

121,   132,  166,   1C.7,  176,  204,  206, 

207.   210,   225,   255,  260,   291,  300, 

315,   318. 
Murphv.  Maj.  Richard,  29,  40,  48.  64. 
Murphv,  Wm.  G.,  144,  152,  236,  241. 


Vlll 


INDEX. 


Murphj',   Edward,   31,  92,  126,  135, 
148,  164,  188,  203,  204,  215,  227, 
230,  241,  254,   273,   289,  298,  308, 
312,  317,  318,  324,  327,  332. 
Murphy,  Ira,  168,  161,  285. 
Murphie,  Henrietta,  315. 
Murray.  Wm.  P.,  260. 
Munson,  J.  W.,  295. 
Munson  Bros.,  162. 
Muhlenberg,  Herman,  383. 
Murray,  John,  Jr.,  303,  311,  359. 
Myrick,  Nathan,  7,  12. 
Nash.    Z.    E.    B.,    162,  190,  192,   224, 

254,  260,  263,  298. 
Nash.  Edgar,  162,  224,  270. 
Nash,  Mrs.  Z   E.  B.,  209. 
Nash,  Geo.  A.,  278. 
Neill,  E.  D.,  39,  43,  46,  108,  136,  226, 

315,  333,  395. 
Newcomb,  C.  A..  92,  105. 
Nichols,    Rev.    H.    M.,  200,  226,  240, 

322,  328. 
Nickerson,  J.  Q.  A.,  91. 
Newton,  Phineas  B.,  383. 
Newton.  Wm.  J.,  383. 
Newton,  Frank  H..  383. 
Newton,  Thos.  R.,  383. 
Newton,  J.  C,  383. 
Noah,  J.  J..  166. 
Nobles,  Wm.  H.,  205,  210. 
North,  John  W.,  91,  93,  108,  109, 121, 
170,  193,  208,  209,  216,  224,  254, 
292    332. 
North'rup,  Anson,  91,  119,  121,  135, 
145,  148,  188,  192,  194.  203,  236, 
312,  3S0. 
Northrup,  Mrs.  Anson,  360. 
Noot,  Wm.,  19,  226. 
Nourse,  Geo.  A.,  255.  292,  298,  313. 
Nobles,  Jerry  S.'  383. 
Nobles,  Daniel,  383. 
Nobles,  A.  S.,  383. 
Nobles,  J.  H.,  333. 
Nodeker,  J.  M.,  359. 
Nutting,  Rev.  F.,  200,  211. 
Nutting,  Gen.  Levi,  200. 
O'Brien,  Frank,  319. 
Odell,    Simeon,    144,    152,    192,  205, 

243    291. 
Officer,  Harvey,  318. 
Olds,  M.  L.,  232,  260,  309. 
Oliver.  Dea.  A.M.,  143,  153,  318. 
Olmsted,  David,  42,  88,  237. 
Olmsted,  S.  B.,  257. 
Orth,  John,  179,  207,  225,  263. 
Ortman,  Dr.  A.,  315. 
Orthoudt.  Josiah,  248.  291,  311. 
Oswald.  Henry.  306,  307,  381. 
Oswald,  Tohn  C.  143,  307. 
Owens,  J.  P.,  30,  37. 
Oxborough,  Thos.,  251. 
Paine,  D.  L.,  190,  382. 
Paine,  J.  M..  381. 
Palmer.  Deacon,  292. 
Palmer,  Rev.   Lyman,    30,    174,  187, 

225. 
Parsons.  Wm.  J..  255.  260.  310. 
Parker  Bros..  254. 
Parker,  D..  306. 

Parker.  B.  B..  92.  142,  149,  172. 
Parker,  L.  N.,  91,  143.  152. 
Parks,  Geo.,  143,  150,  183,  205,  265. 
Past.  J.  E..  318,  336. 
Patch.  Ed.,    16.    93,    119,    120,    212, 

225,  298,  383. 
Patch,  Wallace,  383. 
Patch,  Lewis,  383. 
Patch,  Gibson  S.,  383. 


Patch,  Luther,  16,  383. 

Partridge,  H.  A.,  295,  304,  332. 

Pearl,  J.  H.,  319. 

Pearl,  Mrs.  J.  H.,  278. 

Pease,  Silas,  192. 

Perkins,  Oscar,  260. 

Perkins.  Winslow  T.,  295. 

Perkins,  John  B.,  252. 

Perkins,  French,  248. 

Perkins,  Dr.  E.  R.,  247. 

Perkins.  Thos.  H.,  247,  292. 

Pettijohn  Titus,  145,  205.  240. 

Pettit,  C.H.,271,276,  289,  299,  300, 

304,  308,  314,  318,  328,  329. 
Pettijohn,  Eli,  16,  143,  148,  183,  192, 

218. 
Peters,  Dennis.  143,  150. 
Peddington,  J.,  175,  224,  278. 
Pendergast,  W.  W.,  293,  383. 
Phinney.  W.  S..  310. 
Phillips.  James,  199,  273,  383. 
Phillips,  N.  O..  120. 
Pierce,  Thos.  W.,  155,  156,  205.  275, 

291. 
Pierce,  Washington,  383, 
Pike.  John.  219. 
Pillsbury,  John  S.,278,  308,  317,  323, 

327    333 
Plummer,  H.  C,   206,  210,  226,  241, 

318,  336. 
Plummer,  J.    P.,  241,  253,  254,  292, 

298,  321. 
Plummer,  R.  W.,  311. 
Plummer,  L.  P..  334,  382. 
Potvin,  Jos.,  16,  120,  186. 
Pope.  Maj. -Gen.  John.  25. 
Pollock.  David  A.,  383. 
Pollock,  John,  383. 
Pomeroy,  Mrs.,  335. 
Pomerov,  Bates  &  Co.,  284. 
Poncin,  Peter,  205. 
Pond,  S.  W.,  Jr..  383. 
Pond,  Rev.  S.  W..   48,    51,  53,  55,  58. 

210. 
Pond.  Rev.  G.  H.,    37,    48,  51,  54,  58, 
60.    88,    136,    186,    207,    223,    226, 
286,  385,  398. 

Potts,  F.  R.,  83. 

Powers,  Geo.  M.,  200.  293. 

Pratt,  Job,  292. 

Pratt,  Nelson,  270. 

Pratt,  S.,  91,  144,  150. 

Pratt,  Rufus  L.,  92,  144,  150,  292. 

Propper.  Geo.  N.,  236. 

Prince,  J.  S.,  277. 

Prescott,  Hiram,  192. 

Prescott.  Geo.  W.,  193,  198. 

Prescott,  Philander,  8,  43,45,  61,180, 
207,  213,  218. 

Purdv,  H.  E.,  320.  359. 

Quinn.  Peter.  48,  186. 

Ramsey,  Alex.,  32,  33,  38,  39,  97,  100, 
109,  115,  242,  259,  285,  293,  327, 
405,  408. 

Ramsdell,  Mrs.  Edward,  160. 

Rand,  Mayor,  223. 

Rankin.  Dr.  S.  F.,  307,  315,  323,  328. 

Randall,  B.  H.,  131, 132, 183, 181,  419. 

Raiche,  Peter,  186. 

Kauen  Peter,  295. 

Ravoux,  Rev.  A.,  11,  48,  59,  108,186. 

Reed,  Tas.,  120. 

Reed,  A.  H.,  383. 

Reeve,  Mrs.  M.  C,  305. 

Keilv,  M.  O.,  219. 

Reidhead.  John.  181,  302. 

Reno,  Capt.  J.  C,  141,  150,  154,  291, 
295,  308,  310,  317. 


( 


INDEX. 


IX 


Revnolds,  Henrv,  31  7. 

Rheildaffcr,  Ktv.  J.  (i..  '2:,9.  1*S5. 

Richardson,  Wtii..  01,   li24-. 

Richardson,  I5radhurv,  '.WS. 

RijIKS,  Ur.  S.  K.,  2<t,  +H.  G7,  50. 

Richardson,  Geo.  U..  205,  311.',   DIO. 

Richardson,  A.  \V.,   305. 

Richardson,  Jesse,  205. 

Richardson,  R.  M..  214,   215. 

Richardson,  K.  ^V.,  38:5. 

Richard,  Geo*.,  215. 

Rice,  Kdniond,  103. 

Rice,  ().  W.,  303,   33S. 

Rice,  II.  M.,    +,  0,  11,   lOO.   109,  IGO, 

1S3,   250,  2G1,  273.  585,  4-06. 
Rice,  Mrs.,  335. 
Rirkers,  S.  M.,   255. 
Rich,  Rev.  J.  ()  ,  320. 
Rich,  Rev.  J.  I)..   311.   31-1-. 
Ripley,  Dr.  F.  \V.,  2M3. 
Roberts,  Capt.  Louis,   17. 
Rol)erts,  Nathan,  14-2. 
Roekey,  II.  !>..  310. 
Roliinson,  Chas.,  307. 
Robinson,  S.  C,   316. 
Robinson,  W.  II.,   318. 
Robinson,  A.  B.,   180. 
Robinson,     Reuben,     243,    248, 

280,   202. 
Robinson.  E.  H.,  253,   263. 
Rogers,  Miss  L.  M.,  335. 
Rogers,  R.  C.  S:  O.  H  ,  359. 
Rogers,  Richard,   195,   292. 
Rogers,  Orrin.  224,  230. 
Rogers,  Rev.  T.  15.,   226,  277. 
Rogers,  Henrv,   239. 
Rollins,  Capt.  John,  16,  93,  113, 

120,   169,   172,  170,   201,   209, 

239,   250,   263,  270,   325,   333, 
Rollins,  Mrs.  Capt.  John,   360. 
Ross,  Samuel,   162,   224. 
Rose,  A.  H.,  359. 
Rouse,  A.  H.,  383. 
Rowell,  Rev.  T.,   173. 
Russell,  Rev.  A.  A.,  30,  24,  250, 

287,  288,  300. 
Russell,  \V.  A.,  162,  392. 
Russell,  R.  P.,  15,   10,   115,   121, 

145,  162,   191,  209,   213,   215. 

232,   200,   253,  279,   284,   289, 
Russell,  W.  F,,  300,  326,  361. 
Russell,  Mrs.  R.  P.,  360. 
Rust,  Geo.  H.,  359,  361. 
Ryan,  I'atrick,  253. 
R3-an,  Morris,  280. 
Sabin,  Dr.  J.  B.,  315. 
Sager,  Mrs.  Judith  Ann,  142. 
Salter,  Rev.  C.  C.  381. 
Sampson,  Warren,  236,  253. 
Sampson,  Wm.,  252. 
Sanders,  X.  H.,  252. 
Sanborn,  C.  B.,  32S. 
Sanborn,  Rev.  A.  I).,  326. 
Savorv  &  Horton,  275. 
Savorv,  Geo,  A.,  334,  359,  380. 
Sargeant,  1.  A.,  383. 
Scofield,  \iiss  Marv  A.,  128,204,  207. 
Scoficld,  1.  I).,  209,  221,  240. 
Schuler,  Peter,    219. 
Schniitz  ^c  Dennis,  327. 
Schrappel,  Peter,  336. 
Scott  &  Morgan,  359. 
Schacfer,  Jacob,  424. 
Seamans,  S.  A.,  25  2. 
Secombc.  D.    A.,    108,  162,  193,  224, 

292,   30(),  322,  330. 
Secombe,  Rev.    Chas.,    108,  170,  207, 

217.   225.   226,  230.   240. 


259, 


114, 
230. 
359. 


143. 
230, 
312. 


Secombe,  C.  C.  321. 

Self,  Thos..  162. 

Selbv,  J.  W..   215,   326. 

Set/cr,  H.  M.,  65,  71. 

Shaw,  N.  I).  »\:  Co.,   1S2. 

Shaw.  H.  P.,  190. 

Shaw,  A.  I).,  193,  224. 

.Sherburne,  ].  C,  295. 

Sherburne.  Chas.  K.,   295,   310,   318. 

Sherburne.  .Moses,   198.    303,  322. 

Shaver,  Mrs.  James.  251. 

Shaver,  Bayard  T.,  252. 

Shaver,  Bernard  G.,  252. 

Shaver,  Jas.,  Jr.,  186,  243. 

Sheitlin,  Godlrev,  205,  359. 

Sheplev,  H.  H.,   144,   275. 

Sheplev,  I.  C,  lOO,   224. 

Shultz,  S.  K.,   102,   204,   209. 

Shrewsbury,  Irvine,   252,   322. 

Shunivvav,  Julin,  210. 

Sheldon,  Rev.  Chas.  B.,  300. 

Siblev,  M.  II.,  2.  4,  9,   24,   37,  48.  58, 

80,  07,  00.  100,  104,  105,  100.  241, 
257,  259,  260,  282,  285,  287,  100, 
294.  303,  312.  313. 

Sidle,  J.  K..  307,  331. 

Simons,  L.  G..  383. 

Simpson,  A.,  65. 

Simpson,  Gen.  J.  H.,   260. 

Sloan,  John.   248. 

Slocum,  Chas.  H.,  305,   319,   382. 

Slocuni,  Jas..  383. 

Smith.  Edward,    145. 

Smith,  D.  H.,   192,  205. 

Smith,  Sidney,  284,  380. 

Smith,  Freeman  M.,   215. 

Smith,  T.  D.,   300,   383. 

Smith,  Robert.  145. 

Smith,  D.  T..  283,  289,  291,  298,  304, 

305,  335. 
Smitli,  Levi,   145. 
Smith,  C.  K.,  109. 
Smith,  Wm.,  92,  120,  146. 
Smith,  Fred.  L.,  307,  334,  382. 
Smith,  Miss,  223. 
Smith,  \V.  R.,  359. 
Smith,  John,  383. 
Smithvman,  John,  192,  205. 
Snelling,  Mrs..  38. 
Snvder,"  A.  f.,  293,  383. 
Snvder,  C.  L.,   293,  383. 
Snvder,  Simon  P.,  271,  288.  294.  380. 
Snvder    &   McFarland.  276.  289,  304. 
Snvder,  McFarland  &  Cook,  303,  30S. 
Snow,  Cvrus,  310,  319.   326. 
Snow.  J.  M.,  192. 
Sorin,  Rev.  S.,   200. 
Spaidding,  Z.  D.,  252. 
Spafford,  Wm.  A.,  306. 
Spafford,  David  P.,  203.  218. 
Spear,  S.  P.,  295,   299,  303. 
Spear,  J.  H.,  270,  287.  286.  291.  295, 

298,  31 0. 
Spencer,  Bcnj.,   263. 
Spencer,  Dr.  Kirby,  360. 
Spooner,  Wm.,   106,   224. 
Stanton,  Miss  Hannah  C,  .T15. 
Staples,  S.  C,   199. 
Stanchfield,  Samuel,  224,  289. 
Stanchfield,  Daniel,  10,  134,  171,  204, 

257,   203. 
Stanley,  E.  B.,  164,  133,  192. 
Staring,  Jonas,  251. 
Steele,    Franklin,    5,    13,    14,    15,  24, 

27,  28.  34.  46.  49.  05.  66.    75.  79, 

81.  82,  100,  109,  142,  166,  169, 
219,  227,  228.  2+4.  250.  201.  2S4, 
300,  413. 


INDEX. 


Stearns,    C.   T.,    91,    106,    159,    166, 

167,  204,  206,  207,   210,  257. 
Stephens,  Enos,    92. 
Stevens,    Simon,    92,    124,    145,  186, 

204,  205,  306, 
Stevens,  I.  I.,  212. 
Stevens,  A.,  215. 
Stevens,  Wm.,  92. 
Stevens,  Rev.  J.  D.,  9. 
Stewart,  Levi  H.,  307,   383. 
Stillman,  H.  R.,  219. 
Stinson,  W.,  92,  141,  162,  192. 
Stinson,  Thos.,  144.  150. 
Stimson,  Daniel  T.,  278. 
Stimson,  C.  T.,  16,  158,  204,  333. 
Stone,  Alvin,  119,  224. 
Stone,  Lewis,  91. 
Stone,  Prof.   Geo.  B.,    285,    311,  313, 

318,  335,  361. 
Stone,  Martin  B.,  322. 
Stone,  Boomer  &  Boj'nton,   288. 
Stough,  Samuel,    145,  155,  186,  292, 

292. 
Stoxigh,  Miss,  207. 
Stoughton,  O.  W.,  237. 
Stoddard,  N.  E.,  143,  308,  213,   258. 
Strout,  Richard,    293,  314,  360,  361. 
Stratton,  L.  W.,  393. 
Sully,  Deacon,    144,    151,    310,    318, 

330,   337. 
Swett,  Geo.  W.,  245. 
Swett,  O.  T.,  295,  327,   332,  333. 
Symonds,  Chas.,  215. 
Swift,  Henry  A.,  405. 

Tataour,  L.  T.,  272. 

Talbott,  J.  H.,  332. 

Tavlor,  J.  L.,  89. 

Tyler,  Elmer,  91,  107,  175,   190. 

Taylor,  N.  D.  C,   92,   215. 

Taylor,  H.  B.,  321. 

Taylor,  Gen.  Zachariah,  2. 

Tapper,  Capt.    John,    84,    104,    178, 
194,   260,   360. 

Thatcher,  Samuel,  162,  166,  176,  336. 

Thayer,  D.  B.,  253. 

Tennv,     John     L.,      129,      204,      298, 
311. 

Thomas,  Uriah,  271,  322,   327. 

Thompson,  A.  P.,  192. 

Thompson,  Benj.,  215. 

Thompson,  J.  H.,  328,  334,  336. 

Thompson,  MiSs,  278. 

Thomdvke,  P.,  219,    304. 

Thornton,  Mrs.  329. 

Thurber,  J.  W.,  305. 

Tibbitts,  Nathaniel,  162. 

Timpson,  C.  L.,  120. 

Titus,  Mrs.  Julia,  311. 

Titus,  M.  S.,  186,  192. 

Tirrill,  C.  B.,  292. 

Todd,  J.  B.  P.,  41. 

Todd,  Wm.  A.,  284,  311. 

Towne.  Miss  E.  A.,   318. 

Towne,  Mrs.,  360. 

Townsend,  Wm.  H.,   176,   292,  304. 

Townsend,  Robert,  219. 

Townsend,  Ilenrj',  240. 

Townsend,  Aliss  Mary,  244. 

Townsend,  Geo.  W.,  270. 

Townsend,  Dennison,  292.  ' 

Tourtelotte,  Sylvanus,  159,  162. 

Trask,  S.,  65. 

Trader,  J.  II.,  224,   260. 

Tracv,    "S.    M.,    191,    209,    224,   245, 
312. 

Tufts,  J.  C,  262,  312. 

Tury,  Jos.,  309. 

Tuttle,  Wm    G.,  192,  205. 


Tuttle,  Calvin    A.,     15,     16,    86,  105, 

108,   120,  128,  167,  168,  169,  173, 

180,  203,  228,  23v7,  271,  300,  309, 

318 
Upton,  R.  P..  92,  115,  182,  224,  239, 

256,   289,   292,   298. 
Van  Cleve,  Mrs.  Charlotte,  Ouisconsin, 

431. 
Vanderburg,     C.    E.,     246,    287,    295, 

305,   309,   310,  318,  319,  322. 
Van  Nest,  Hiram,  144,  155,  162,  235, 

31 8 
Vateri  S.  L.,  237. 
Varner,  Clark,  242. 
Vamer,  Wm.  H.,  248. 
Van  Enman,  Jos.,  332. 
Vail,  G.  T.,  92,  119,  224. 
Van  Vorhis,  A.,   109,  285. 
Van  Valkenburg,  R.,  292. 
Veine,  John,  219. 
Vroman  &  Crocker,  328. 
Wagoner,  L.,  187. 
Wagner,  Hiram  W\,  359. 
Wales,  W.  W.,  92,  198,  214,  239,  293, 

298,  310,  327,  333,   360. 
Wales,  John  S.,  192. 
Wales,  Geo.  N.,  192. 
Wales,  Isaac,  242. 
Wales,  W.  \Y.,  Jr.,  219. 
Walcott,  A.,  295,  310. 
Walcott,  A.  &  Co.,  291. 
Walcott,  Miss,   335. 
Walcott,  Mrs.  Jane,  244. 
Walker,  L.    C.     152,     162,    237,  300, 

304,  318,  333. 
Walker,  John  S.,  333,   336. 
Walton  Bros.,  383. 
^Yardswell,  Eben,  240. 
Warren,  L.  B.,  192. 
Warren,  P.,   187,   204. 
Warwick,  Thos.,   92,  219,  290. 
Ward,  C.  H.,  253. 
"W^ashburn,  Gen,  W.  D.,  301,  303,  307,. 

308,  309,  314,   317,  332,  333,  361. 
Wass,John,  144,  154,  162,  192 
Whalen,  Henry,  186,  206. 
Whalen,  M.  S.,  186,  286. 
Wheelock,  Dr.,  277. 
Whedden,  G.  B.,   319. 
W^heeloek,  H.  D.,  328. 
Wheeler,  W.  P..   330. 
Wheeler  &  Nutting,  328. 
■Wheelock,  J.  A.,  382. 
White,  Wm.,  383. 
Whitefield,  E.,  294. 
Whitnev,  O.  T.,  135.  162. 
Whitnev,  Rev.    J.    C,     136,   202,   223, 
226,  230,  240,  241,  250,  259,  261, 
277,  309,  310,  358,   360. 
Whitcomb,  Capt.  Geo.  C,  361. 
Whitmore,  W.  S.,  334,  382. 
Whitstone,  Hobart,  172. 
Wilcox,    Carlos,    236,  250,   276,  283, 
284,   289,   300. 
I  Wilkinson,  M    S.,   65. 
I  Willey,  R.  C,  218. 
(  Willev,  Col.   U.  S.,  327. 
I  Williams,  Thos.  Hale,    195,  306,  315, 
I      326,   328,   359. 

1  Williams,  Rev.  A.  D.,  306,  310,  317. 
\  Williams,  1.  C,   307,  319,  327,  359. 
1  Williams,  John  G.,  315,  329. 
I  Williams,  L.  H.,  328. 
1  Williams,  J.  Pletcher,  332. 
Williams,  Capt.,  300,  307. 
Willius,  Wm.,  65. 
I  Williamson,    Thos.    S.,  9,  29,  40,  58, 
i      59,  72,  80. 


IXDKX. 


Wilson,  J.  I'..  92.   115,   2(>7. 
Wilson,!-:.    M.,     !">(».     L'Ur>,   29;».  .".07, 

31 U,   319,   325,   3r.(),  3H(). 
Wilson,  J.  ]>.,   1H2,   24-(). 
Wilson,  T'riah,  293. 
Wilson,  Ceo.  W.,   31K. 
Willis.  C.  I..,   215. 
Winnell,  I'etcr,   300. 
Winthrop,  W.  W.,  3()7. 
Winslow,  Jas.  .\1..  313. 
WorthinKham,   Wni.,    91,     11+,     1-13, 

150. 
Worthinyham.  Mrs.  Wni.,  92,  119. 
Woods,    Gen.  Samuel,   25,   26,  41,  74., 

70,  1+5. 
Woodman,  Ivory  F.,   28+,  29+. 
Woodman,  AV.  W.,  292. 
Wood,  C.  H.,  310,  332. 
Wolverton,  J.  A.,  316,  329. 
Woodward,  K.  R.,   262. 
■Woodburv,  Wni.  W.,   361. 


WorthinjjhaTn,  Ivmorv,   :'.'J'J 
Wrinjrlcv.  W.,  3()<;. 
Wright,  i:.  R.,   236. 
Webster,  Horace,  92,   1  t.". 
Webster,  C.  S.,   32S. 
Webb,  J.  Kussell,   295. 
Weeks.  S.  C.   31.^. 
Widstran<l,  C.  A.,   2HU. 
WeUli,  W.  U.,   91,   197. 
Wekh.  Mai.  A.  E..    197. 
Weld,  J.  C,   310. 
Weld.  J.  ().,  359. 
Welles,  IlenrvT.,  21«>,    lj++, 

299,   306,   311,   312,   .".IH, 

+1  9. 
Wensinger,  John,   92,    22+. 
West,  1;.  B.,   20+,   225. 
Wcingart,  Peter,  33.'!. 
Vounj;,  A.  R.,  92. 
YounK.  J.  S..  326. 
I  Younji  Bros.,   310. 


263. 
:!19, 


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